Amethyst Verdura
Vintage 1970s Italian Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1990s American Cuff Bracelets
Amethyst, Citrine, Jade, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s Brooches
Chalcedony, Amethyst, 18k Gold
Vintage 1930s French Byzantine Brooches
Amethyst, Pearl, Quartz, Gold, Gilt Metal, Yellow Gold
1990s French Byzantine Cuff Bracelets
Bronze, Enamel, Gilt Metal
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2010s Choker Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1980s American Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1980s Swiss Wrist Watches
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 2000s Evening Gowns
Vintage 1980s Italian Modernist Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Peridot, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s American Modern Dome Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
2010s American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
2010s Maxi Dress
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Hoop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s French Link Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s American Brooches
Gilt Metal
Antique 1840s British Early Victorian Link Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold
20th Century French Modern Hoop Earrings
Brown Diamond, Opal, Gold, Silver
20th Century American Modern Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Malachite, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Italian Retro Bangles
18k Gold
Recent Sales
20th Century American More Earrings
Amethyst, Gold
1990s American Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Jade, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1970s American Contemporary Cuff Bracelets
Amethyst, Citrine, Jade, Pearl, Ruby
21st Century and Contemporary European Cuff Bracelets
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century American More Necklaces
Amethyst, Aquamarine, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s American Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Aquamarine, 18k Gold
2010s Dome Rings
Amethyst, Peridot, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Contemporary Fashion Rings
Amethyst, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Yellow Gold
1990s Fashion Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Byzantine Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Peridot, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Garnet, Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modernist Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Cuff Bracelets
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Peridot, Black Jade, 18k Gold
2010s American Modern Cuff Bracelets
Amethyst, Emerald, Peridot, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Drop Necklaces
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, South Sea Pearl, Rubelite, Blue Topaz, 18...
20th Century American Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
Amethyst, Peridot, 18k Gold
Early 2000s American Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Base Metal, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Modern Brooches
Amethyst, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century American Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Aventurine
Early 2000s American Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Artist Link Necklaces
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Iolite, Peridot, Quartz, Rubelite, Tanzanite, 18k ...
1990s Byzantine Brooches
Amethyst, Citrine, Emerald, Garnet, Peridot, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow...
1990s Byzantine Brooches
Citrine, Emerald, Garnet, Peridot, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire,...
2010s Byzantine Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
1990s American Stud Earrings
Amethyst, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American More Earrings
Amethyst, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Peridot, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century American Clip-on Earrings
Sapphire, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Drop Earrings
Tourmaline, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s American Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Bangles
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Peridot, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century American Cuff Bracelets
Jade, Citrine, Ruby, Amethyst, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Charm Bracelets
Amethyst, Citrine, Peridot, Topaz, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
American Cuff Bracelets
Italian Three-Stone Rings
Amethyst, Rubelite, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Cuff Bracelets
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Peridot, Gold, 18k Gold
American Cuff Bracelets
American Brooches
Vintage 1930s Unknown Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Cocktail Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Amethyst Verdura For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Amethyst Verdura?
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.