Ritz Pin

Q: I inherited this pin from my mother and would like to know more about it. It has a metal loop and a catch on the back and can be worn as a pendant as well as a pin. It’s marked “Ritz” and “Pewter.” Can you tell me how old it is and what it’s worth today?

A: Your pin was part of a 1975 special offer by cosmetics manufacturer Charles of the Ritz. The pin, a square metal “trinket box,” and a 6-ounce bottle of Liquid Revenescence sold for $8.75 with a $6 purchase of any Charles of the Ritz cosmetics product. The pin and box are lacquered and embossed with the original “Ritz Lady,” an Art Deco motif first used by the company in the 1920s. Charles of the Ritz was founded in 1919 by Charles Jundt, who operated a beauty salon at the Ritz Hotel in New York City. He began using the name “Charles of the Ritz” on his products in 1926. The company changed hands several times before being bought by Revlon in 1987. Charles of the Ritz products were no longer made after 2002. The pin shows up for sale today more often than the box. Value of your pin: $25 to $75.