The Secret Keeper | Art Deco Binder Bros. Inc. Sterling Silver Locket Necklace

The Story Behind the Piece

This distinctive sterling silver necklace was made to carry its locket close. The original oval-link chain, finished with a front-facing T-bar toggle, gives the piece a striking, balanced look while keeping the locket front and center.

At its heart hangs an elegant oval locket, decorated with crisp, machine-cut pinstripe engraving, a delicate beaded border, and a blank shield cartouche. Open it, and you’ll find both original sterling silver photo rims still intact—ready to hold two cherished memories. The cartouche remains unengraved, leaving space for a personal monogram or a story of its own.

The Legacy Chapter

This piece features the historic maker's mark of Binder Bros. Inc. (two capital "B" letters nestled inside interlocking circles) alongside a crisp "STERLING" guarantee. Founded in New York in 1922 by brothers Elmer C. and Lawrence O. Binder, the company became celebrated for their premium, bench-made silver and gold-filled jewelry throughout the 1920s and 1930s. True to the Art Deco movement, their work prioritized balanced geometry, clean lines, and architectural elegance. Because the factory stopped production by the late 1940s, intact, unmodified surviving pieces like this—especially functioning lockets—are prized historical treasures.

With its original chain, complete photo rims, and working hinge, this piece brings its history forward while leaving room for someone new to make it part of their story.

The Details

• Era: Circa 1930s, Art Deco
• Maker: Binder Bros. Inc., New York
• Metal: Sterling silver
• Necklace length: 17 inches
• Locket: 40 × 27 mm
• Closure: Front-facing T-bar toggle
• Interior: Both original photo-retaining rims intact
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition with an authentic silver patina; blank cartouche and clean, functioning hinge

A one-of-a-kind vintage piece, ready to hold a little piece of your story.