Verdura 18 Karat Diamond Earrings
View Similar Items
Verdura 18 Karat Diamond Earrings
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1990's
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Beverly Hills, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: 159091stDibs: LU4429952982
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.
- Antique Amethyst Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Clip on EarringsLocated in Beverly Hills, CAOne Pair of Antique Amethyst Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Clip On Earrings. Featuring two oval brilliant cut amethysts with a total weight of approximately 4.85 carats. Accented by 3...Category
Vintage 1910s Unknown Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsAmethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Mid-Century Citrine Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Clip On EarringsLocated in Beverly Hills, CAOne Pair of Mid-Century Citrine Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Clip On Earrings. Featuring two oval step cut citrines with a total weight of approximately 15.00 carats. Accented by four rou...Category
Vintage 1960s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsCitrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Vintage French Diamond and Enamel 18k Yellow Gold Clip on EarringsLocated in Beverly Hills, CAOne Pair of Vintage French Diamond and Enamel 18k Yellow Gold Clip on Earrings. Featuring two emerald cut and two trillion cut diamonds with a total weight of approximately 2.50 cara...Category
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
- Vintage Bvlgari French Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Sphere Clip On EarringsBy BulgariLocated in Beverly Hills, CAOne Pair of Vintage Bvlgari French Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Sphere Clip On Earrings. Featuring 26 round brilliant cut diamonds with a total weight of approximately 0.55 carat, graded ...Category
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Mid-Century French Citrine Ruby Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Ear Clip On EarringsLocated in Beverly Hills, CAOne Pair of Mid-Century French Citrine Ruby Diamond 18k Yellow Gold Ear Clip On Earrings. Featuring two oval cut citrines with a total weight of approximately 6.55 carats. Accented b...Category
Vintage 1960s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsCitrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Pair of Vintage 10.00 Carat Total Weight Diamond Platinum 18k Gold EarringsLocated in Beverly Hills, CAOne Pair of Vintage 10.00 Carat Total Weight Diamond Platinum 18k White Gold Clip On Earrings. Featuring 10 tapered baguette and 20 pear cut diamonds with a total weight of approxima...Category
Vintage 1980s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
- 18 Karat Yellow Gold Earrings by VerduraBy VerduraLocated in Zurich, CHStylish pair of 18 Karat Yellow Gold Earrings by Verdura. Crafted in 18 karat ribbed yellow gold and designed as sculpted leaves, these beautiful earrings are meant to be worn up the...Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Verdura Diamond Platinum and 18 Karat Gold Acorn EarringsBy VerduraLocated in New York, NYFine pair of diamond, platinum and 18K yellow gold earrings by Verdura. Resembling acorns, they are adorned with high grade round brilliant cut diamonds over a very detailed gold and...Category
Late 20th Century Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
- Verdura Diamond Enamel and 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bow EarringsBy VerduraLocated in Bellmore, NYIntroducing the Verdura Diamond Enamel and 18 Karat Yellow Gold Platinum Bow Earrings—a masterpiece of elegance and sophistication that encapsulates the timeless charm and artistic b...Category
1990s Contemporary Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsWhite Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
- Verdura 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Target EarringsBy VerduraLocated in Palm Beach, FLVerdura "Target" clip earrings, designed with the fletching of four gold arrows protruding from a gold target with a round brilliant-cut diamond-set bullseye. Handmade in 18k yellow ...Category
2010s Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Citrine Earrings by VerduraBy VerduraLocated in Zurich, CHStylish pair of 18 karat yellow gold and citrine ear clips by Verdura. Eye-catching 18 karat yellow gold ear clips of slightly bombé design, each in form of a stylised shell and decorated with 10 calibré-cut, trapeze-shaped citrines. These delightful earrings are designed to be worn up the lobe and are suitable for day and evening wear. Completed by comfortable omega clip backs. They have been recently professionally cleaned and are in very good condition. Signed VERDURA Made in Italy Total weight: 22.6 grams Duke Fulco di Verdura started his career in Paris in the 1920s. He ventured to America in 1934 and designed jewels for the stars of the era, including Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo. During the war he gained a following of high-profile clients amongst New York's society who was enticed with the bold yet understated "chic" of his creations. In 1985, Ward Landrigan, head of Sotheby's US...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsCitrine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Verdura 18K Yellow and Platinum Diamond Pineapple EarringsBy VerduraLocated in New York, NY18K yellow gold and platinum diamond pineapple clip-on earrings. Set with 60 round diamonds approx 2.50 cts and 16 baguette diamonds approx 0.50ct, approx E color and VS clarity. Mea...Category
Vintage 1980s American Clip-on Earrings
MaterialsDiamond, 18k Gold, Platinum