The paradigm shift took place over lunch in Florence, Italy, circa 1992. Betony Vernon, a striking flame-haired jewelry designer, was showing off her most recent creation: the 18-karat-gold O-ring, designed with a nod to a bondage collar, with a smaller ring affixed to its front.
Playfully, Vernon's partner put his pinky through the smaller ring as she donned the larger one. Then, the unexpected happened. “There was an electric impulse running through this piece,” she recalls. “We both felt it.” The feeling changed her life. “That was the moment I knew that jewelry can provide sensation and reinforce an intimate bond.”
Enabling others to experience electric moments like that — to “bring luxury, fantasy and sensual possibilities to the fine-jewelry world” — has been Vernon's aim ever since. “Sex and luxury were never associated,” she noticed, and the jewelry designer set out to change that. The result was her 1992 Sado-Chic collection, which became the Paradise Found collection.
Vernon grew up in Virginia and studied art history, religion and goldsmithing at Virginia Commonwealth University. Following her graduation in 1990, she moved to Florence, later earning a master’s in industrial design from the Domus Academy in Milan. Europe has been home ever since.
Vernon's designs are provocative, sexy. But if you look no further than that, you’re missing a much bigger (and more interesting) point. Vernon’s rings, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories represent a vital part of what she sees as her life’s mission.
“Pleasure,” she explains, “has been associated with sin, wrongness and naughtiness, not with joy, happiness and bonding.” Vernon has set out to demolish that “pleasure taboo.”
So, how is pleasure reflected in the design of Vernon's jewelry (and remember, we are talking sensuality not sexuality)? Early in the design process, she asks, “How many senses can I turn on?” Every detail relates to a sensual experience.
That crisp snap a clasp makes when opening or closing? A pleasure to the ear.
The softness and spring of noble metals, silver and gold? A pleasure to the touch.
And always, Vernon believes, jewelry embodies memory, legacy. A pleasure for the soul.
Find a collection of Betony Vernon jewelry on 1stDibs.
Betony Vernon "Pierced Cufflinks" Cufflinks Sterling Silver 925
By Betony Vernon
Located in Rome, IT
The "Pierced Cufflinks" were designed by Betony Vernon in 1998 and manufactured in lost wax elements. Part of the iconic "Tokens of Paradise Collection", they are a symbol of virilit...
Sterling Silver
Betony Vernon "Tuxedo Bondage Kit" Cufflinks Silk Sterling Silver 925 in Stock
By Betony Vernon
Located in Rome, IT
The "Tuxedo Bondage Kit" was designed in 1994 and is comprised of a Sado-Chic bond link, one pair of O-Ring Cuff Links and cotton or silk wrist cuffs. The O-Ring cuff links can also ...
Sterling Silver
Victor Mayer Hallmark Cufflinks In Silver 925 Ø Approx. 15 mm
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer Hallmark 15 mm Round Cufflinks in Sterling Silver Handcrafted in Germany with a solid and longlasting mechanism. High quality finish and rhodium plated to avoid tarnishing. Comes with a Victor Mayer box and convenient pouch. Reference: 49235/00/00/00/500 Material: 925 / - silver Dimensions: Ø approx. 15 mm About Victor Mayer Sensual, exotic, urbane and confident, Victor Mayer continues a 130 year tradition of classically themed modern jewellery for women around the world. Stylistically cosmopolitan, Victor Mayer jewellery...
Silver
$631 / item
H 0.6 in W 0.6 in
Square Cufflinks with Design Facet in Solid 925 Sterling Silver, Rhodium Plated
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Square Cufflinks with Design Facet in Solid 925 Sterling Silver, Rhodium Plated, 15 mm x 15 mm by Victor Mayer Cufflinks made in the workshop of VICTOR MAYER in Pforzheim, Germany. T...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Unavailable|$834 / item
Emerald Sterling Silver 925 Horses Enamel Customizable Cufflinks
By AVGVSTA
Located in Milano, IT
Cufflinks made in sterling silver 925 featuring a horse, thanks to amazing hand enamel life-like features is vividly rendered. Emeralds on the eyes. It is also possible customizabl...
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Fluted Rectangular Cufflinks in Solid 925 Sterling Silver
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Fluted Rectangular Cufflinks in Solid 925 Sterling Silver, Rhodium Plated, 11.5 mm x 17 mm by Victor Mayer Cufflinks made in the workshop of VICTOR MAYER in Pforzheim, Germany. The q...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Cushion Shaped Cufflinks Structured Lines 925 Sterling Silver
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Cushion shaped Victor Mayer Structured lines Cufflinks 925 Sterling Silver, dimensions approx. 17 mm x 18 mm VICTOR MAYER is a fine jewelry house known for its sophisticated craftsm...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Victor Mayer Hallmark polished turtle Cufflinks in 925 Sterling Silver
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer Hallmark polished turtle Cufflinks in 925 Sterling Silver VICTOR MAYER is a fine jewelry house known for its sophisticated craftsmanship. Since 1989, the company has be...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$693 / item
Dm 0.75 in
Fluted Round Lapis Lazuli Cufflinks in Solid 925 Sterling Silver, Rhodium Plated
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Fluted Round Cufflinks in Solid 925 Sterling Silver, Rhodium Plated, Lapis Lazuli, 19 mm by Victor Mayer Cufflinks made in the workshop of VICTOR MAYER in Pforzheim, Germany. The qua...
Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver
$382 / item
H 0.63 in W 0.83 in
Rectangular 925 Sterling Silver Cufflinks with Black Onyx Rhodium Plated
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Rectangular Cufflinks, Hallmark Collection by Victor Mayer, 925 Sterling Silver, Black Onyx, Rhodium Plated About the creator Victor Mayer Victor Mayer is internationally renowned f...
Onyx, Silver, Sterling Silver, Rhodium
Deakin & Francis Sterling Silver Black and White Enamel Dress Stud Set
By Deakin & Francis
Located in Derby, NY
Deakin & Francis Sterling Silver Black and White Enamel Dress Stud Set This set of four shirt studs is beautifully crafted in sterling silver and hand enameled. Excellent condit...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Round shaped cufflinks 925 Sterling Silver with two circles as indentation
By Victor Mayer
Located in Pforzheim, DE
Victor Mayer - HALLMARK COLLECTION - Round shaped cufflinks 925 Sterling Silver with two circles as indentation VICTOR MAYER is a fine jewelry house known for its sophisticated cra...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$262Sale Price / item|20% Off
925 Sterling Silver Oranges Keychain by Pietro Sorini
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
925 sterling silver orange keychain signed by Italian Pietro Sorini Arezzo from the 1960s with orange metallic enamel details Weight 41 grams PRADERA is a second generation of a...
18k Gold, Sterling Silver
French 1930s Art Deco Vermeil Cufflinks
Located in Poitiers, FR
Pair of silver and vermeil cufflinks, mixed hallmark of eagle and boar's heads. The central stem, of square section, is decorated with a black sugarloaf stone at each end on one of t...
Silver, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
Betony Vernon "Pierced Cufflinks" Cufflinks Sterling Silver 925 in Stock
By Betony Vernon
Located in Rome, IT
The "Pierced Cufflinks" were designed by Betony Vernon in 1998 and manufactured in lost wax elements. Part of the iconic "Tokens of Paradise Collection", they are a symbol of virilit...
Sterling Silver