Joan Rivers Classics Collection Bee Brooch 1990s Crystal Rhinestone Green Eyes Gold Plated

This Joan Rivers Classics Collection bee brooch from the 1990s features a gold plated body, clear rhinestone covered wings and body, two dark green rhinestone eyes, and a signature mark on the back.

The brooch is bright and shiny, with its raised crystal decoration intact in the photographs and a working pin clasp, while small areas of darker metal finish are visible on the reverse.

Joan Rivers launched her QVC jewelry collection in 1990, and the bee became her signature design because it represented doing what others thought impossible. This little bumblebee has the sparkling wings, rounded crystal covered body, and detailed gold tone legs that make her bee jewelry recognizable. At approximately one inch across, it is a small decorative pin for a jacket lapel, cardigan, or scarf.

Details

• Item: Bee brooch
• Item Type: Decorative costume jewelry pin
• Era: 1990s
• Materials: Gold plated metal with clear crystal rhinestones and dark green rhinestone eyes
• Color: Bright gold tone, silver tone rhinestone settings, clear crystals, and dark emerald green eyes
• Maker and Mark: Joan Rivers Classics Collection. Oval signature cartouche on reverse
• Pattern or Model: Joan Rivers crystal rhinestone bee
• Style: Dimensional bumblebee with spread wings, pavé rhinestone decoration, textured gold tone legs, and raised rounded body
• Dimensions: Approximately 1 inch long x 1 inch wide
• Special Features: Clear rhinestones on both wings and the rounded body sections, two dark green faceted eyes, gold tone textured legs, raised body construction, oval maker cartouche, and working pin clasp

Condition Grade: Very Good

Positives

• Graded Very Good: This brooch has a bright gold tone finish, sparkling rhinestone decoration, and a functioning pin clasp, with small surface marks visible on the reverse.
• The brooch has a solid construction, and the pin clasp opens and closes.
• Both wings are present, with clear round rhinestones arranged across their shaped surfaces.
• The larger rounded rear body section is covered with clear faceted rhinestones set close together.
• The smaller raised center body section also retains its clear rhinestone decoration, including the larger central stones.
• Both dark green rhinestone eyes are present and visible at the front of the bee.
• The gold tone legs remain attached, including the small rounded feet visible along the sides.
• The textured metal finish is still visible on the legs and the underside of the body.
• The bee has a layered, three dimensional design, with the wings extending beyond the body.
• The oval maker cartouche remains attached to the reverse.
• The long pin stem and clasp assembly are present on the back.
• The gold tone finish appears bright across the front, especially around the wings, eyes, and body.

Issues / Wear

• Small dark areas and variations in the gold tone finish are visible on the underside of the wings and around the reverse body details.
• Fine surface marks are visible on portions of the gold tone metal near the clasp and raised legs.
• The rhinestone settings show small darker areas between individual stones, most noticeable in the close views of the rounded body.
• The oval maker cartouche is visible, but the complete lettering is difficult to read in the close photographs.
• The photographs do not establish whether every rhinestone is fully secure in its setting.

Find more like this in our Pins & Provenance: Vintage Jewelry + Commemorative Pins collection.

If you collect Joan Rivers Classics Collection bee jewelry, this 1990s crystal covered brooch with green eyes and a working clasp offers a small, wearable example of her signature design. If it's the one you've been looking for, it's ready to come home.