Verdura Bead Necklace
2010s Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Citrine, Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late 20th Century Unknown Link Necklaces
Diamond, Black Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Stud Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
2010s French Pendant Necklaces
Malachite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Chain Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Edwardian More Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Late 20th Century Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s American Modernist Brooches
Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Stud Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Australian Artist Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 22k Gold, Platinum
1990s Italian Modernist Cocktail Rings
Coral, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Chain Necklaces
Coral, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Multi-Strand Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold
2010s Clip-on Earrings
Tanzanite, Gold
2010s French Link Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century Beaded Necklaces
Coral
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Yellow Gold
2010s Byzantine Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Beaded Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Jasper, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Beaded Necklaces
Agate, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century American Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Garnet, Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Gold
1990s American Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, 18k Gold
Early 2000s American Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Diamond, Moonstone, Ruby, Tourmaline, Silver, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Beaded Necklaces
14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Carnelian, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Multi-Strand Necklaces
Chalcedony, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Artist Link Necklaces
Diamond, Cultured Pearl, Apatite, 18k Gold
1990s American Multi-Strand Necklaces
Chalcedony, 18k Gold
2010s Italian Modern Multi-Strand Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Link Necklaces
Onyx, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Multi-Strand Necklaces
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
Garnet, Pearl, Hessonite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s American Beaded Necklaces
Agate, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Beaded Necklaces
Rock Crystal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Base Metal, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s American Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Emerald, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Early 2000s American Beaded Necklaces
Peridot, 18k Gold
20th Century American Beaded Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Multi-Strand Necklaces
South Sea Pearl, Quartz, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1970s Italian Cocktail Rings
Citrine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Beaded Necklaces
Agate, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold
1990s American Beaded Necklaces
Jade, 18k Gold
1990s American Beaded Necklaces
Chrysophrase, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Rock Crystal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Tourmaline, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Chalcedony, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Base Metal, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
18k Gold
Italian Beaded Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Aquamarine
21st Century and Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1990s American Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Multi-Strand Necklaces
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Link Necklaces
Citrine, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
American Drop Necklaces
Vintage 1980s Italian Beaded Necklaces
Kunzite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Beaded Necklaces
Rock Crystal, Turquoise, 9k Gold
Verdura Bead Necklace For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Verdura Bead Necklace?
Verdura for sale on 1stDibs
Fulco di Verdura (1898–1978) is not exactly a household name, except for those who know a thing or two about highly original, often eccentric handcrafted jewelry and, even more so, for those fortunate enough to own some. In that exclusive group, Verdura is regarded as the most gifted and coveted designer of his time.
Verdura was born in Sicily in 1898, the scion of a noble family related to the Lampedusas. (His cousin, Giuseppe di Lampedusa, wrote the great Italian saga The Leopard). His life was charmed from birth. Raised in his family’s villa, he grew up during a time when Sicily, and Palermo in particular, were meccas for well-born and highly cultured European travelers.
A bona fide duke with no clear ambitions but creative leanings aplenty (he could draw and paint), the young Verdura was part of the wandering social circuit — the so-called beau monde — that went from capital to capital, resort to resort.
Verdura, though small in stature, had that indefinable quality called charm. As a result, he was the life of every party he attended. When he finally started designing jewelry under Coco Chanel in the late 1920s, many of his friends became his clients (or received the pieces as gifts). Elsa Maxwell took him under her ample wing when she was hired to do public relations for the Lido in Venice and introduced him to the local and visiting cognoscenti. Chanel, whom he met in Venice, hired him to work in the textiles division of her fashion house. But it was his flair for jewelry that soon caught Coco’s eye. Eventually, he rose to become her personal designer of fine jewelry.
In 2002’s Verdura: The Life and Work of a Master Jeweler (Thames & Hudson), Vanity Fair’s Amy Fine Collins describes the sensation of wearing pieces by Verdura, who drew inspiration from nature for his signature gem-studded seashell brooches and honeybee earrings. “They were ingeniously calculated to flatter the wearer,” writes Collins. “Earrings undulated to complement the convolutions of an earlobe, rings seductively followed the phalanges of a finger, and necklaces gracefully traced the anatomy of the throat.”
In 1934, Verdura left Chanel and together with two friends, aspiring actress Princess Natalia Pavlovna Paley and Baron Nicholas de Gunzburg, moved to the U.S. After several stops, he found a job through Diana Vreeland in Hollywood with Paul Flato, then the “jeweler to the stars.” Soon he was signing his work and helping Flato cultivate the crème de la creme of the silver screen — those both on it and behind it.
Verdura left Los Angeles for New York and opened his own salon, first on Fifth Avenue in 1939, just as World War II was beginning in Europe. His backers were Vincent Astor and Cole Porter, for whom he made bejeweled boxes and cigarette cases — gifts from Porter’s wife, Linda — to commemorate the opening nights of several musicals. Verdura began to expand both his repertoire — he became much more daring and flamboyant — and his clientele. The Duchess of Windsor, Daisy Fellowes, Greta Garbo and others routinely gave him commissions. In 1941, Verdura collaborated on a collection of six pieces with Salvador Dalí to accompany a Dalí exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. Verdura retired in 1972 and left the care of the company to his partner, Joseph Alfano. He later moved to London, where he died in 1978 at the age of 79.
Among the most prized pieces on display in a 2014 Verdura jewelry exhibition in New York were Greta Garbo’s curb-link bracelet watch, which Verdura designed for her in 1939; Coco Chanel’s pair of Maltese Cross cuff bracelets (she wore one on each wrist); and Diana Vreeland’s duo of Byzantine brooches.
Find a range of authentic Verdura jewelry today on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right beaded-necklaces for You
Whether they’re chunky, statement-making accessories or a single strand of the understated sort, antique and vintage beaded necklaces are versatile pieces of jewelry. Indeed, the unique beaded necklaces in your jewelry box likely go with everything, from casual summer tops and shorts to dazzling evening gowns.
From the fish-bone and seashell jewelry of the prehistoric era to the breathtaking amulets and pendants of ancient Egypt to modern sapphire beads, people have been accessorizing with beaded necklaces for eternity.
Beaded necklaces — as well as other kinds of necklaces — were common in prehistoric times. Personal adornment was important, and jewelry was made for every part of the body. Beadwork is among the best known art forms attributed to Native Americans, and just as they had for saddlery and clothing, early populations would fashion beads for necklaces with stone tools or instruments made of wood. The making of colorful glass beads for beaded necklaces likely originated in Venice, Italy, during the 14th century, particularly given the growth of the decorative glass industry on the series of Venetian islands called Murano. During the Neolithic period, humans were buried with coral beaded necklaces from the Mediterranean, even as far north as the Alps.
Whether you’re seeking the pop of color you’ll get in a double-row jade beaded necklace from the Art Deco era — which encompasses the 1920s and ’30s and ushered in a very distinct look in jewelry design — or perhaps a simple strand of pearls for a blouse that leaves your neck bare, remember that different necklines call for different pieces of jewelry.
When accessorizing with a beaded necklace, a long piece with a pendant will likely pair best with your favorite vintage V-neck dress or V-neck tee, while beaded chokers and collar necklaces are a stylish fit for strapless tops. Bigger beads will hit your neckline in a different way than a more minimalist necklace might, so you’ll want to keep that in mind. Choose colors you like and pick items that will go with what is in your closet. When the occasion calls for it, don’t be afraid to stack. “More is more” for some, so pairing a delicate strand with a bolder piece might be the move for you.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of pearl beaded necklaces, antique emerald beaded necklaces, diamond beaded necklaces and more.