Traveling with jewelry: Stylish, sturdy Sobral
If you don't already know the Brazilian costume jewelry designer Jackie Sobral, you're in for a carnival-sized treat, and just in time for summer holidays.Sobral is the ideal carefree travel jewelry: lightweight, colourful, reasonably-priced resin pieces. My bangle (at left) is seven years old and looks great despite being thwacked hard on several continents—no chips or cracks.
It's not just for the road; Sobral perks up a basic jacket or polishes jeans for the bistro.
The Sobral signature is the vivid swirl of colour, but it's also made in neutrals, and there's a range of scale, from small earrings to huge cuffs.
In the early the '70s, Carlos Alberto Sobral and his then-wife Rita de Cássia sold their designs at Brazilian markets and fairs. Over the following decades, Sobral expanded the line but kept the Carioca vibe. He's collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld, and Sobral pieces are carried in several museum stores. Boutiques in Paris and NYC have opened in the past few years, but the brand is still unusual enough to not be ubiquitous.
The first five pieces shown are from Sobral's USA e-store; the last is from eBay seller squeaky1103 (The Funky Accessories Store, also online as Jackie Brazil World); great prices and sales! Though new collections are released often, an older Sobral looks very much like the current season's.
Metallique large silver bangle: clear and silver resin; $90:
Inspiracao necklace of black resin "stones" with a single clear and gold accent bead, $175:
Plutao earrings; $48:
Retroz "carré" ring, $48:
A Sobral piece also makes a great "conscious chic" gift; according to the company's website, its sustainable manufacturing practices and responsible employment policies and programs will reassure recipients of a Sobral piece that resources are not being heedlessly depleted for the sake of a bauble.
Bring on the caipirinhas!
Comments
I love the metallic bangle!
I think I have seen those multicoloured bangles here in town at the antique and collectible mall...fun especially for summer.
Great for our World Cup viewing!
Sandra: My blog exists to share resources so "I am the only one who knows" is kind of an anti-goal around here. Happy you found it, now let's Sobral all summer!
(The company is now called "Jackie Brazil", and a web page they posted states that their current pieces are all laser-signed.)
Older pieces (dating from the 90's and early 2000's) have a plastic label marked 'R Sobral', the "R" is Carlos' ex-wife Rita. Early pieces ('70's- '80's) are unsigned.
Either buy from a reputable jeweller/boutique who is a certified JackieBrazil/Sobral reseller or check for the laser signature if the piece is current production when buying from someone on a site like eBay or Etsy.
You might get a response by contacting JackieBrazilUSA.com via FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/JackieBrazilUSA/ or one of the official stockists like Bisoux in the UK: https://www.bisouxjewellery.co.uk
We would like to hear what you find out, thanks.
Jackie Brazil Team
Thu, Dec 2, 8:30 PM (4 days ago)
to me
Hi Gillian,
All JB jewellery comes with an original tag. That plus the packaging (pouch and care card) is what we send with the jewellery. Currently, we do not sign the jewellery.
Best wishes
JB4YOU
On Fri, 3 Dec 2021, 03:15 Gillian Carter, wrote:
From: Gillian Carter
Subject: Signed Pieces
Message Body:
Hello, I am an enormous fan of your fabulous jewellery. However I have found lately that people are trying to sell me unsigned pieces. They are telling me that your newer items are no longer signed. Is this true? How can I tell if a piece is a genuine Jackie Sobral? Thank you and kind regards Gillian
One collector says imitations have more straight, precise lines and you can easily spot fakes if you have been looking at Sobral, the lines are a bit wavy between the colours.
But I am wondering if there are many imitations out there. (Does any reader know?) It is not easy to make this jewellery and unlike say, fake Gucci there would not be a big profit margin.
Appraisers and dealers authenticate by the maker's mark but more rigorously by close examination of fabrication and materials. They consult back catalogs to see whether and when the piece was made. Forgeries exist at every level but are most common for well-known status brands.
You might enjoy the site "Real or Repro": https://www.realorrepro.com/article/Costume-Jewelry
which discusses how costume jewellery fakes differ from authentic pieces.
But there is nothing like looking at the real thing to train one's eye. If you have a Sobral stockist where you live, go in and look at it (and maybe you won't be able to resist!)