Italian-born American jewelry designer Ralph DeRosa (1885–1942) made a significant contribution to the development of jewelry art in the US. After graduating from the Naples School of Design and Art, 20-year-old Ralph moved to New York City. There he began working in the jewelry industry, honing his skills as an artist, designer, and jeweler.

When DeRosa founded Ralph De Rosa Co at 404 Fourth Avenue in New York City in 1934, his name already had a strong reputation in the industry. Indeed, over nearly 30 years as an independent jeweler, DeRosa created exquisite pieces for many jewelry houses.

Nationally advertised in the 1940s and 50s, the first De Rosa jewelry ad appeared in April 1937 in Vogue. Harper’s Bazaar also featured De Rosa signed masterpieces. His brooches, necklaces and earrings of sterling silver with gold plating, constructed with the precision and care, were remarkably realistic. Beautifully matched stones resembled closely the jewels they simulated.

De Rosa and Derosa

Noteworthy, the earliest mention of the designer was on the List of Registered Voters in New York City, 1924 – Manhattan Assembly District 20. There his last name also consists of two words. However, birth and death records list the founder’s surname as one word, DeRosa, or Derosa.

Ralph Derosa and Virginia Naclerio married in New York in 1910. Virginia Derosa (1896 – 1966) was originally from Agerola, a municipality in Naples, Italy. Within three years Virginia and Ralph had two daughters – Theresa Derosa (1912 – 2002) and Elvira Derosa (1913 – 1980).

Elvira and Theresa De Rosa

After their father’s death in 1942, the two sisters, Theresa Derosa and Elvira Derosa helped their mother Virginia run the family business. Both sisters were executive partners of Ralph De Rosa Co.

Noteworthy, both sisters married quite late in life. Elvira De Rosa and Frank P. DeMario of Brooklyn, got married on August 18th, 1951. Frank DeMario, who was at that time with Robert De Mario & Co., shortly joined the Ralph De Rosa Co.

Exactly one year later, her elder sister, Theresa De Rosa, an executive partner of the Ralph De Rosa Co., also got married. However, her husband Antonio L. Pesce had no connection to the jewelry business. A Doctor of Medicine and surgeon, he attended Columbia University, New York University, and the University of Rome.

After selling the family business in 1955, both sisters settled in the affluent area of ​​Palm Beach, Florida, where they lived for the rest of their lives.

The last years of the De Rosa firm

Revived after 1955, Ralph De Rosa firm continued manufacturing costume jewelry for some years more. The company’s archives contained hundreds of sketches created by Ralph DeRosa and other designers, complete with detailed manufacturing instructions. It was these sketches that De Rosa’s designers used to create jewelry after his death.

In fact, the history of the Ralph De Rosa Company, fine costume jewelry manufacturers, spanned three decades, from 1934 to 1963. According to the Official gazette of the United States Patent Office, Ralph De Rosa Company and trademarks were cancelled in 1963.

Vintage ads and Jewelry by De Rosa