The mononymously known Italian designer Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani (b. 1932) is renowned for his fashion house of romantic styles and feminine shapes that he founded in Rome in 1960. Valentino dresses, skirts and other apparel captured the hearts of many of Italy’s wealthiest ladies in the couturier’s early days and led to commissions from Babe Paley, Gloria Guinness, Jayne Wrightsman and others on the international best-dressed list (when it still meant something). They sought out Valentino for gorgeous gowns, jackets, elegant daytime wear and even when they needed wedding dresses.
An early fascination with fashion developed when Valentino attended the theater as a child and was dazzled by the evening gowns on stage. While a teenager in Voghera, Lombardy, he studied under Italian designer Ernestina Salvadeo and soon moved to Paris, where he trained at the École des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. Valentino spent time apprenticing under haute couturiers Jean Dessès and Guy Laroche, learning how to design and construct high fashion while also thinking about how to strike out on his own.
In 1959, Valentino returned to Italy, and a year later, he opened his own salon, soon joining with longtime professional and personal partner Giancarlo Giammetti. It was located on Rome’s trendy Via Condotti and modeled after the French maisons. One of his earliest clients was Elizabeth Taylor, who discovered Valentino while she was in Rome filming Cleopatra and ordered the white dress that she wore to the premiere of Spartacus.
When the designer launched his first couture line in 1962 with its fiery red colors, it was internationally celebrated, with Valentino soon attiring fashion trendsetters including Princess Margaret and Audrey Hepburn. He formed an especially close friendship with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, for whom he designed numerous dresses. Luxurious drapery with fine needlework, bold uses of color and dramatic flourishes would define Valentino fashion across the decades.
As a fashion house, Valentino is best known for its signature Valentino Red color, though one of its iconic lines is the monochromatic “no colour” collection for which the designer won the Neiman Marcus Award in 1967. (The collection also debuted his trademark “V.”) The white dresses and beige dresses led to a demand for Valentino wedding gowns, with clients including Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Lopez and Anne Hathaway.
Valentino retired from his fashion empire in 2007, with Alessandra Facchinetti and then the duo Maria Grazia Chiuri (who departed in 2016) and Pierpaolo Piccioli succeeding him as creative directors. But Valentino still steps out of retirement for special occasions, such as designing a wedding gown for Princess Madeleine of Sweden in 2013.
Today, the brand offers a range of collections that include the Valentino Garavani line and REDValentino, a diffusion line that is aimed at a younger audience. The house has expanded far beyond women’s haute couture and prêt-à-porter to encompass various lines of accessories, including shoes, sunglasses, scarves and perfume.
Find vintage Valentino evening dresses, handbags and other items on 1stDibs now.
Valentino Garavani Couture Gilded Metal Jeweled Bracelet
By Valentino
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning Valentino Garavani Haute Couture bracelet features a chunky faceted heavy gilded metal bangle shape, adorned with crystal rhinestones and large faux-coral resin cabocho...
Gilt Metal
Valentino Garavani Couture Gilded Jeweled Bangle Bracelet
By Valentino
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elevate your private jewelry collection with this exquisite Valentino Garavani Haute Couture statement bracelet bangle—an exceptional piece that radiates timeless glamour. Designed w...
Gilt Metal
14 Karat White Gold 4-Row Pearl Bracelet With Turquoise Stations & Clasp
Located in Baltimore, MD
14 Karat White Gold 4-Row Pearl Bracelet With Turquoise Stations & Clasp Metal: 14k white gold Weight: 40.76 grams Pearls: 5.8-6mm white cultured pearls Length: 6.5 inches Width: 1 ...
Pearl, Turquoise, White Gold
Multi Strand Pearl Twist Bracelet with Decorative 14K Yellow Gold Bow Tie Clasp
Located in Mount Kisco, NY
Enjoy a twist on a classic. Multiple strands of lustrous pearls accented with decorative 14 karat yellow gold bow tie clasp create this sophisticated pearl wrap bracelet. Expertly m...
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1.25 Carat Round Diamond 6-Prong Ring in 14k White Gold
Located in Chicago, IL
This piece comes directly from the vault of Atlantic Diamond Company—a family-run fine jewelry house with nearly 50 years of history serving elite collectors, retailers, and dealers ...
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
1950s Vintage French Ruby and Diamond Gold Bracelet
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An impressive vintage French 0.21 carat ruby and 0.08 carat diamond, 18 karat yellow and white gold bracelet; part of our diverse ruby jewelry collections. This fine and impressive gold bracelet has been crafted in 18k yellow gold with 18k white gold settings. The vintage ruby and diamond bracelet is composed of seven pierced decorated, long links. Each of the 18k yellow gold pierced decorated links has a central 18k white gold motif, accented with a single pavé set Dutch cut diamond, surrounded by a rope twist frame. The longer links each articulate via seven smaller bifurcated links, each set with a bezel set round cut ruby. The bracelet secures with a discreet push fit clasp and hinged safety catch, and benefits from the additional security of a fine link safety chain. The bracelet is hallmarked to the tongue of the clasp with the French hallmark for 18k gold (eagle's head), struck three times. This vintage gemstone bracelet is supplied with an independent diamond grading report card. Images do not always reflect the true color and brilliance of gemstones and diamonds. The video however provides a truer representation of the actual color and showcases each stone. Condition This impressive vintage bracelet is exceptional quality set with rubies and very well color matched, very high color graded old cut diamonds. The bracelet is an exceptional gauge of gold and is in excellent condition with clear French hallmarks to the push fit clasp. Ruby Quality Color Red Cut Round Content 0.21 carat Diamond Quality Color (average grades) H Clarity (average grades) P1 Cut Dutch Content (total) 0.08 carat Dimensions Length of Bracelet 17.5cm/6.89" Width of Bracelet 8mm/0.31" Height of Setting 2.4mm/0.09" Length of Safety Chain 7cm/2.75" Weight 13.98 grams Date: Circa 1950 Origin: France, Europe Video: A video of this fine piece is available upon request. Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this fine example of ruby and diamond jewelry...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
0.33 Carat Round Diamond 4-Prong Ring in 14k Yellow Gold
Located in Chicago, IL
This piece comes directly from the vault of Atlantic Diamond Company—a family-run fine jewelry house with nearly 50 years of history serving elite collectors, retailers, and dealers ...
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
0.60 Carat Round Diamond 4-Prong Ring in 14k Yellow Gold
Located in Chicago, IL
This piece comes directly from the vault of Atlantic Diamond Company—a family-run fine jewelry house with nearly 50 years of history serving elite collectors, retailers, and dealers ...
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
0.25 Carat Round Diamond 4-prong Ring in 14k White Gold
Located in Chicago, IL
This piece comes directly from the vault of Atlantic Diamond Company—a family-run fine jewelry house with nearly 50 years of history serving elite collectors, retailers, and dealers ...
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
$12,800
H 0.5 in W 1.25 in L 6.73 in
Dramatic American Retro Period , Platinum , Gold , Ruby and Diamond Bracelet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This Retro Period American bracelet embodies all the drama and high style of the best jewelry, art, and architecture of the era. A center platinum domed plate...
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Platinum
Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage 10.80 Carats Ruby & Diamond Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in New York, NY
A ravishing antique bracelet created by Van Cleef & Arpels, featuring a solid 18K yellow gold bracelet encrusted with cabochon rubies we...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$4,900Sale Price|20% Off
W 0.4 in D 0.28 in L 7.49 in
Art Nouveau Diamond Ruby Emerald Blue Sapphire Pearl White Gold Flowers Bracelet
By Luigi Ferrara
Located in Naples, IT
For any problems related to some materials contained in the items that do not allow shipping, please contact the seller with a private message to solve the problem. We can ship every...
Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Ga...
Vintage 2.85ct Diamond Bangle in 18k Yellow & White Gold, Circa 1980
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning vintage 1980s 2.85 carat diamond and 18 karat yellow gold, 18 karat white gold set bangle; part of our diverse diamond jewelry and estate jewelry collections. This stunni...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$3,761Sale Price|20% Off
W 0.52 in L 7.29 in
Art Nouveau Diamond Ruby Sapphire Emerald Amethyst Yellow Gold Flowers Bracelet
By Luigi Ferrara
Located in Naples, IT
For any problems related to some materials contained in the items that do not allow shipping, please contact the seller with a private message to solve the problem. We can ship every...
Agate, Amethyst, Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Rock Crystal, Ruby, Sa...
Valentino gold-plated clamp bracelet and starss
By Valentino
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant bracelet from the great fashion house Valentino, italy. The bracelet is presumed to be from the 1990s collection. The jewelry is a clamp bracelet made of gold-plated metal an...
Valentino Vintage Bracelet in Gold with Stones
By Valentino
Located in Milano, IT
Rare Valentino gold bracelet, from the 1990s, made in Italy. ORIGINAL LABEL AND BRAND NAME. The bracelet is very soft and its skeleton is made ...