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Vintage Gold-Tone Leopard Medallion Stud Earrings — 1980s Coin Relief

$22.00 Only one available

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Retro (1970s–1990s) Gold-Tone Excellent
JWLE-VR-0013
Bold, confident, and unapologetically 1980s. These gold-tone leopard medallion studs carry the spirit of an era that believed bigger was better — and honestly, they weren’t wrong. A sought-after Avon find in excellent vintage condition, with a high-polish finish that’s held up beautifully.
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Vintage Gold-Tone Leopard Medallion Stud Earrings — 1980s Coin Relief

Estimated mid-1980s to early 1990s · Avon

1980s Coin Relief, Gold-Tone Costume

The panther motif in jewelry begins with Cartier, where creative director Jeanne Toussaint — nicknamed "La Panthère" — developed the big cat as a house signature starting around 1914. The Duchess of Windsor's legendary 1952 Cartier panther bracelet cemented it as a symbol of power and sophistication. When Cartier launched the Panthère de Cartier watch in 1983, the motif exploded into popular culture — and costume jewelry makers answered the demand. Avon, with its enormous catalog reach, brought that energy to a wide audience. These medallion studs capture the moment perfectly: the neoclassical coin aesthetic, the bold gold tone, the unapologetic confidence of 1980s power dressing.

Materials Gold-tone base metal with raised-relief panther face. Post-back closure for pierced ears. High-polish finish with no visible wear-through.
Care Apply after perfume, hairspray, and lotion — remove before washing or swimming. Store flat in a dry place, away from other jewelry. Clean with a soft, dry cloth only. No water, chemicals, or polishing compounds on gold-tone pieces.
From the Research Archives
vintagerose.us Catalog No. JWLE-VR-0013 • March 2026

Specifications

Dimensions
N/A
Weight
0.2 lbs
SKU
JWLE-VR-0013
There’s a certain kind of earring that doesn’t whisper — it roars. It walks into the room, makes eye contact, and sits down and confidently licks a paw. These are those earrings. Round medallion studs, about an inch across — big enough to make their point, not so big they’re doing all the talking. The center is a raised-relief leopard face, slightly turned — spots and all — with the kind of fine detail you’d expect from a wax seal or an old coin. A polished rim frames the whole thing like a portrait. Which, in a way, it is.

A Sought-After Avon Find

Big-cat motifs were everywhere in 1980s costume jewelry — the shoulder-pad era had a taste for a little swagger in every outfit, and leopards carried that energy better than almost anything. Avon rode the wave with a series of cat-themed pieces that landed in jewelry boxes across the country via its legendary catalog. Today, those same pieces are quietly sought after by Avon collectors and vintage jewelry hunters who know how hard they are to find in this condition. Intact posts, even finish, no wear-through — this pair ticks every box.

Details

  • Gold-tone base metal
  • Raised-relief leopard face with visible spots and impressive detail
  • Coin/medallion style with raised rim border
  • Post-back closure for pierced ears
  • Approximately 1" diameter
  • Maker: Avon
  • Era: Mid-1980s to early 1990s

Condition

Excellent. The gold-tone finish is bright and even with no visible wear-through — which, for costume jewelry pushing forty years old, says something about how they were stored. Both posts are intact and straight. Someone took good care of these.

Care

Gold-tone pieces last longest when you keep them dry. Put them on last (after perfume, hairspray, lotion) and take them off first. Store them flat, away from other jewelry that might scratch the finish. A soft, dry cloth is all you need for cleaning — no water, no chemicals, no polishing compounds. Treat the finish kindly and it’ll keep that shine for years to come.

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