PodcastsJan 12, 2026
The latest poscasttest
IndependentsJul 21, 2017
Kenneth Jay Lane, King of Costume Jewelry, Dies at 85
The designer’s jewelry adorned the world’s most glamorous women.
Kenneth Jay Lane died in his sleep Wednesday night or Thursday morning, at his home in New York.
New York--Kenneth Jay Lane died in his sleep Wednesday night or Thursday morning in New York, the company’s Executive Vice President, Chris Sheppard, confirmed to National Jeweler. He was 85.
Over his career, Lane’s creations adorned the world’s most glamorous women, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, noted fashion editor Diana Vreeland and Diana, Princess of Wales.
Lane was born in 1932 in Detroit, Michigan. He went on to study at the University of Michigan and the Rhode Island School of Design.
After a stint in Vogue’s art department, Lane worked for shoe designers Delman and Roger Vivier at Christian Dior.
In 1961, he founded his eponymous costume jewelry collection, which revolutionized the world of fashion jewelry.
“Before I came along, costume jewelry was never designed to be stylish,” Lane told the Palm Beach Daily News, at the opening of retrospective exhibition “Fabulous Fakes: Jewelry by Kenneth Jay Lane” at the Norton Museum of Art in 2011.
“It was the sort of thing made for women to wear to church--basic and kind of boring.”
Lane wrote a memoir in 2006, titled “Kenneth Jay Lane: Faking It.”
Meanwhile a documentary on the designer’s life, “Fabulously Fake: The Real Life of Kenneth Jay Lane,” by British filmmaker Gisele Roman, is set to appear at film festivals this year, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and will likely be available for wider viewing in 2018.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Independents
The Latest
Weekly QuizOct 03, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
PodcastsJan 12, 2026
Introducing My Next Question, the PodcastA monthly podcast series for jewelry professionals
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
PodcastsNov 27, 2025
Test Podcast With VideoTest Podcast With Video. New interview with Ada Lovelace.
PodcastsNov 25, 2025
Test New Podcast PostAbstract for tests. New Podcast interview with John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morison.
ColumnistsOct 09, 2024
Peter Smith: 7 Things to Know When Selling LuxuryAhead of the holiday season, Smith delves into the often subconscious reasons people buy luxury products for themselves or their loved ones.
AuctionsOct 09, 2024
Rolex Worn on Apollo 14 Mission Up for SaleThe GMT-Master “Pepsi” belonging to astronaut Edgar Mitchell is a standout in RR Auction’s online “Space Auction,” going on now.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
New Simon Campaign Invites Gen Z to ‘Meet Me At The Mall’The ads celebrate the mall culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
PGI Launches New Virtual Sales TrainingRetail sales associates can access the video series on mobile to refresh their selling skills.
Policies & IssuesOct 09, 2024
GJNRF: Reaching Out, Rebuilding Futures For 25 years, India’s Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation has provided aid in the wake of war, natural disasters, and global crises.
AuctionsOct 08, 2024
Sotheby’s Selling Jewelry That Belonged to a Bulgarian TsarThe November auction will feature a collection of jewels owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Rio Tinto Begins New Phase of Production That Will Extend Diavik’s LifeCommercial production has begun underground at the Canadian diamond mine’s A21 pipe.
SurveysOct 08, 2024
What to Know About Online Shopping This Holiday SeasonDeloitte and Adobe Analytics shared their insights on the season, from the retail sales forecast to the role of generative AI.
CollectionsOct 08, 2024
Sylvie Adds New Men’s BandsThe Texas-based jeweler collaborated with luxury clothing brand Uncommon Man on men’s bands designed with European influences.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Is Current Diamond Industry Turbulence Shaping a ‘New Normal’? Industry players have found ways to cope with market conditions while working to reshape themselves in the face of emerging realities.
SourcingOct 07, 2024
Rio Tinto to Offer 76 Diamonds in 2024 Beyond Rare Tender The sales event, in its second year, features a selection of rare diamonds from the miner’s Argyle and Diavik diamond mines.
CollectionsOct 07, 2024
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi Partners With Heller Jewelers on New CollectionA portion of the proceeds from the “Always Dream” collection will go to Yamaguchi's foundation, supporting early childhood literacy.
