VERDURA Yellow Gold, Blue Topaz and Iolite "Candy" Ring
View Similar Items
VERDURA Yellow Gold, Blue Topaz and Iolite "Candy" Ring
About the Item
- Creator:
- Ring Size:5.5 US, Resizable
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:2000's
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 53R2561stDibs: LU220564902
Verdura
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.
- Janet Yaseen Gold and Iolite RingLocated in New York, NYAn 18 karat yellow gold and iolite ring. Designed as an elevated foliate mounting centering an oval iolite measuring approximately 8 x 10 mm. Size approximately 6 1/2. Gross weight approximately 12.60 grams. Attributed to Janet Yaseen.Category
1990s American Dome Rings
MaterialsIolite, Gold, 18k Gold
- A Gold and Diamond Bombe' RingLocated in New York, NYAn 18 karat yellow gold and diamond ring, circa 1960s. The bombe ring designed as dome of approximately seventy two (72) round brilliant cut diamonds above a textured zigzag border ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Dome Rings
MaterialsDiamond, Gold, 18k Gold
- VERDURA Platinum, Gold and Diamond BraceletBy VerduraLocated in New York, NYAn 18 karat yellow gold, platinum and diamond bracelet. Verdura. Designed as alternating zigzag links of platinum and textured gold, the platinum links set with approximately one h...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Link Bracelets
- A Yellow Gold, Star Sapphire, Ruby and Diamond RingLocated in New York, NYAn 18 karat yellow gold, star sapphire, ruby and diamond ring. Centering an oval gray star sapphire measuring approximately 13.83 x 11.01 mm surrounded by fourteen (14) oval cabocho...Category
1990s American Cocktail Rings
MaterialsRuby, Diamond, Star Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- French Multi Gem Black Diamond Dome RingLocated in New York, NYAn 18 karat white gold, aquamarine, garnet, peridot, amethyst, citrine, diamond and black diamond ring, French. Designed as dome pave set with numerous round brilliant cut black diam...Category
2010s French Dome Rings
MaterialsAmethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, Black Diamond, Garnet, Peridot, ...
- A Yellow Gold, Sapphire and Diamond NecklaceLocated in New York, NYAn 18 karat yellow gold, sapphire and diamond necklace. Designed as a line of round brilliant cut diamonds punctuated with pairs of round brilliant cut diamonds set at the front wit...Category
Vintage 1980s Drop Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Bonheur Ring, Blue Topaz and Pink Topaz and Diamond Yellow Gold Domed RingBy Christina AddisonLocated in New York, NYThe BONHEUR Ring: 18kt Yellow Gold Domed Ring with faceted blue topaz cut center stone and faceted oval Pink Topaz and round Diamonds. This ri...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Dome Rings
MaterialsDiamond, Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Bonheur Ring, Pink Topaz and Blue Topaz and Diamond Yellow Gold Domed RingBy Christina AddisonLocated in New York, NYThe BONHEUR Ring: 18kt Yellow Gold Domed Ring with faceted 15mm hot pink topaz cut center stone and faceted oval London Blue Topaz stones and round Diam...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Dome Rings
MaterialsDiamond, Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Bonheur Ring, Green Amethyst, Amethyst and Blue Topaz Yellow Gold Domed RingBy Christina AddisonLocated in New York, NYThe BONHEUR Ring: 18kt Yellow Gold Domed Ring with faceted 15mm Cushion Cut Green Amethyst center stone and faceted oval Purple Amethyst stones and round ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Dome Rings
MaterialsAmethyst, Topaz, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Bonheur Ring, Dark Blue Topaz, Peridot, Blue Topaz and Diamond Domed RingBy Christina AddisonLocated in New York, NYThe BONHEUR Ring: 18kt Yellow Gold Domed Ring with faceted Dark Blue Topaz Cushion cut center stone and faceted ovalPeridot and Pale Blue Topaz and roun...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Dome Rings
MaterialsBlue Topaz, Peridot, Topaz, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Bonheur Ring, Light Blue Topaz, Peridot, Blue Topaz and Diamond Domed RingBy Christina AddisonLocated in New York, NYThe BONHEUR Ring: 18kt Yellow Gold Domed Ring with faceted Light Blue Topaz Cushion cut center stone and two faceted oval Peridot and two faceted oval Pal...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Dome Rings
MaterialsBlue Topaz, Topaz, Peridot, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Blue Topaz Gold Dome RingLocated in Berlin, DEGermany 2000's. Elevated, ball-shaped front with 25 cushion-cut blue topazes weighing total circa 30 carats and 16 swiss-cut diamonds weighing total ca. 0,08 ct. In 9 K yellow gold. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Dome Rings
MaterialsTopaz, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold