Around 1921 Ralph Singer and Oreste Agnini began a company which was
identified as Agnini & Singer in a 1931 issue of the Keystone jewelry
trade magazine. At that time, in 1931, the company was making
rhinestone novelties plated to look like platinum. These products
included bar pins as well as shoe, hair, dress, and hat ornaments. The
Ora mark was first used in the late 1940s, combining the first two
letters of the owners' first names. Ralph Singer assumed control of the
business after Oreste Agnini retired in 1952, after which the business
was known as the Ralph Singer Company. About that time, Anne Geyer
became the principal designer for the company. Most of this company's
jewelry is small, set with quality rhinestones and/or simulated pearls.
A specialty area for Ora was figural and novelty pins, especially those
made for fraternal organizations, such as the Shriners. In 1984 the
Singer family sold the business to Stanford B. Smith, who died in 1992.
Smith's son and daughter-in-law continue to own and run the company.
