Verdura

Verdura is an American fine-jewelry house and specialty retailer headquartered in New York. The company was founded in 1939 by Duke Fulco di Verdura, the Sicilian aristocrat and designer whose work helped define an influential strand of twentieth-century jewelry design. Verdura developed from a small eponymous salon at 712 Fifth Avenue, opened with financial support from composer Cole Porter and financier Vincent Astor, into a business associated with prominent clients, strong historical design references, and a distinctive approach to luxury jewelry. Before establishing his own salon, Fulco worked with Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and the jeweler Paul Flato. His experience in those environments shaped Verdura's emphasis on bold, highly recognizable forms rather than conventional, delicate ornament. The house became particularly associated with large gemstones set in yellow gold, the use of shells and other natural objects as design sources, and the conversion of classical elements such as coins, rope, and caning into wearable jewelry. Verdura was also an early advocate of combining colored stones with gold for everyday use, helping broaden the role of colorful gemstones beyond formal or ceremonial jewelry. The brand's historical network included Cole and Linda Porter, who were long-standing clients. Fulco designed the famous “Night and Day” cufflinks for Cole Porter in 1941, drawing on the lyrics of Porter's song. Linda Porter also commissioned Verdura cigarette cases to mark the openings of several of her husband's stage productions. In the same year, Fulco collaborated with Salvador Dalí on jewelry designs, linking the house to the broader world of modernist and surrealist art. Earlier, Fulco had redesigned jewelry for Chanel, including the Maltese Cross Cuff, which became one of the most recognizable forms associated with both Chanel's personal style and Verdura's design history. Ownership changed hands while the business retained its design identity. Fulco sold his stake to his business partner Joseph Alfano in 1973. Alfano later sold the company to Ward Landrigan in 1985. Landrigan had previously led Sotheby's American jewelry department and had operated an estate-jewelry business since 1973. His admiration for Fulco's work led him to preserve the Verdura aesthetic and continue producing jewelry in a manner intended to remain close to the original workshop tradition, including the use of some of the same jewelers associated with Fulco. The modern house combines newly produced jewelry based on Fulco's designs with vintage and estate pieces. Nico Landrigan joined Verdura in 2003 and became president on September 1, 2009, the brand's seventieth anniversary. The company has used anniversary and archival projects to keep historic designs in circulation, including a 2009 recreation of seventy Maltese Cross Cuffs based on Fulco's original Chanel-era design and a fall 2011 recreation of jewelry associated with screen stars such as Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, and Joan Crawford. Verdura's positioning is therefore grounded less in rapid seasonal fashion than in continuity, craftsmanship, and recognizable archival design. Its jewelry is presented as collectible luxury with a strong narrative connection to Fulco's life, artistic associations, celebrity clientele, and twentieth-century style history. The brand's influence has extended beyond its own collections: its work has been cited as an inspiration for designers including Angela Cummings, Kenneth Jay Lane, Paloma Picasso, Seaman Schepps, Jean Schlumberger, and David Webb.

Verdura was established in New York in 1939 by Duke Fulco di Verdura, following his earlier work with Coco Chanel and Paul Flato. The first salon operated at 712 Fifth Avenue and was financially supported by Cole Porter and Vincent Astor. Fulco brought to the business a distinctly artistic and historically informed approach to jewelry, combining large stones, yellow gold, and references to natural forms with motifs drawn from classical design. The house quickly became associated with influential clients and creative collaborations. In 1941, Fulco worked with Salvador Dalí on jewelry designs and created Cole Porter's “Night and Day” cufflinks. His relationship with Chanel was also central to Verdura's history. After Chanel asked Fulco to reset jewelry given to her by former lovers, he developed designs including the Maltese Cross Cuff, which became a signature form connected to both Chanel and Verdura. Fulco's work for the Porters included custom cigarette cases commemorating the openings of Cole Porter's stage productions. Verdura's design language challenged the separation between formal jewelry and daily wear. The house promoted the combination of colored gemstones and gold, while transforming shells, coins, ropes, and caning into bold decorative elements. This approach helped establish a recognizable style based on scale, texture, and symbolic references rather than minimal settings or restrained ornament. The resulting designs influenced later jewelry makers, including Angela Cummings, Kenneth Jay Lane, Paloma Picasso, Seaman Schepps, Jean Schlumberger, and David Webb. In 1973, Fulco sold his interest in the business to Joseph Alfano, his business partner. Alfano sold Verdura in 1985 to Ward Landrigan, who had experience as head of Sotheby's American jewelry department and had built an estate-jewelry business beginning in 1973. Landrigan's stewardship emphasized preservation. Rather than treating Verdura solely as a historical name, he continued to produce jewelry based on Fulco's designs and sought to maintain the original character of the work through traditional workshop practices and relationships with jewelers associated with Fulco. Nico Landrigan joined the company in 2003 and became president on September 1, 2009. The same year, Verdura marked its seventieth anniversary by recreating seventy Maltese Cross Cuffs from Fulco's original Chanel-era design. In fall 2011, the company recreated designs associated with screen stars including Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, and Joan Crawford. These projects illustrate Verdura's continuing reliance on archival design as both a product strategy and a means of communicating the house's cultural history. Today, Verdura operates as an American fine jeweler and specialty retailer headquartered in New York. Its present-day offering combines jewelry derived from Fulco di Verdura's lifetime designs with vintage and estate pieces. The brand remains defined by continuity with its founder: sculptural forms, large gemstones, yellow gold, natural imagery, classical references, and a connection to the social and artistic history of twentieth-century luxury.

• 2011

  Screen-star archival recreations

  [1]Verdura (jeweler)en.wikipedia.org

  Verdura recreates jewelry designs associated with Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, and Joan Crawford.

• 2009

  Seventieth anniversary and presidential succession

  [1]Verdura (jeweler)en.wikipedia.org

  Nico Landrigan becomes president on September 1, and Verdura recreates seventy Maltese Cross Cuffs for the house's seventieth anniversary.

• 2003

  Nico Landrigan joins the company

  [1]Verdura (jeweler)en.wikipedia.org

  Nico Landrigan joins Verdura as the next-generation representative of the company's ownership and management.

• 1985

  Ward Landrigan acquires Verdura

  [1]Verdura (jeweler)en.wikipedia.org

  Joseph Alfano sells the company to Ward Landrigan, an estate-jewelry specialist and former head of Sotheby's American jewelry department.

• 1973

  Fulco sells his stake

  [1]Verdura (jeweler)en.wikipedia.org

  Fulco di Verdura transfers his interest in the company to business partner Joseph Alfano.

• 1941

  Dalí collaboration and Night and Day cufflinks

  [1]Verdura (jeweler)en.wikipedia.org

  Fulco collaborates with Salvador Dalí and designs the Night and Day cufflinks for Cole Porter, later regarded as signature Verdura pieces.

• 1939

  Verdura opens its New York salon

  [1]Verdura (jeweler)en.wikipedia.org

  Duke Fulco di Verdura establishes an eponymous jewelry salon at 712 Fifth Avenue in New York with backing from Cole Porter and Vincent Astor.

A heritage American fine-jewelry house centered on Fulco di Verdura's sculptural designs, bold use of yellow gold and colored stones, natural motifs, archival recreation, and collectible estate jewelry.

• Cuff bracelet

  Maltese Cross Cuff

  The Maltese Cross Cuff is one of Verdura's defining archival designs. Fulco di Verdura created the form after resetting jewelry for Coco Chanel, and its large cross motif, sculptural construction, and association with Chanel made it a key expression of the house's identity. Verdura later produced a seventieth-anniversary edition of seventy cuffs based on the original design.

• Cufflinks · 1941

  Night and Day cufflinks

  Designed for Cole Porter in 1941, the Night and Day cufflinks translate the songwriter's work into a jewelry object. The design is treated as a signature Verdura piece and reflects the brand's early connection to artistic patrons, custom commissions, and the blending of personal symbolism with fine craftsmanship.

• Fine jewelry

  Colored gemstone and yellow-gold jewelry

  Verdura is recognized for jewelry combining substantial colored gemstones with yellow gold. The approach was intended to make colorful stones suitable for everyday wear as well as formal settings. Designs typically emphasize scale, saturated color, strong silhouettes, and an expressive relationship between the stone and the surrounding metal.

• Fine jewelry

  Natural-motif jewelry

  Natural-motif pieces draw on shells and other found or organic forms. Verdura's treatment of these subjects is decorative and sculptural rather than literal, turning natural references into bold gold jewelry and contributing to the house's recognizable mix of luxury materials and unconventional inspiration.

• Estate jewelry

  Vintage and estate jewelry

  Verdura's present-day offering includes vintage and estate pieces alongside newly produced jewelry based on Fulco di Verdura's designs. This category reinforces the company's role as both a working jewelry house and a custodian of historically significant objects connected to Fulco's clientele, collaborations, and design vocabulary.

• 2011Screen-star design recreations

  International

  Verdura recreated designs associated with Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, and Joan Crawford, drawing attention to the brand's historical relationship with cinema and celebrity clients.

  Outcome. The initiative extended Verdura's archival strategy beyond Fulco's Chanel association to other notable figures linked to the house's design history.

  Source
• 2009Seventieth-anniversary Maltese Cross Cuff recreation

  International

  Verdura marked its seventieth anniversary by recreating seventy Maltese Cross Cuffs based on Fulco di Verdura's original design for Coco Chanel.

  Outcome. The project reinforced the Maltese Cross Cuff as a central archival symbol of the house.

  Source

• 2009

  Nico Landrigan appointed presidentOther

  Background

  Nico Landrigan had joined Verdura in 2003 and assumed a senior leadership role during the company's seventieth-anniversary year.

  Action taken

  He became president on September 1, 2009.

  Aftermath

  The appointment represented the continuation of the Landrigan family's stewardship of Verdura.

  Source

• 1985

  Acquisition by Ward LandriganM&A

  Background

  Joseph Alfano had owned Verdura since acquiring Fulco di Verdura's stake in 1973. Ward Landrigan, an estate-jewelry specialist and former Sotheby's executive, had a longstanding appreciation for Fulco's designs.

  Action taken

  Landrigan acquired Verdura and pursued continuity with Fulco's design language and workshop approach.

  Aftermath

  The brand continued as a heritage jewelry house producing designs based on Fulco's work while also offering vintage and estate pieces.

  Source

1. 1Verdura (jeweler)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Verdura official websiteverdura.com