Hobe

William Hobe, son of French goldsmith Jacques Hobe, immigrated to the United States in the early 1900’s.  He worked as a salesman for a German company that produced theatrical costumes.  It has been said that Florence Ziegfeld, of the Ziegfeld Follies, asked him to make inexpensive jewelry to compliment the costumes he sold.  Ziegfeld is also credited with using the term “costume jewelry” to describe Hobe’s jewelry.  William Hobe the started Hobe Cie Ltd. around 1930.  The family-run business manufactured high quality costume jewelry marketed under slogans like “Jewels of Legendary Splendor” and “Jewels of Hobe”.  Hobe has used a variety of marks over its years in business.