An amethyst and aquamarine bracelet, earring and ring suite, by Verdura, 1969

The bracelet composed of both oval and circular-shaped amethyst and aquamarines of various sizes, to a concealed clasp, the ring of cluster design, set with a central oval-cut amethyst encircled by circular-cut aquamarines, the earrings composed of circular and oval-shaped amethyst drops, suspended from pear-shaped amethyst surmounts within a cluster of circular-cut aquamarines, unsigned, lengths: bracelet 22.0cm., earrings 8.0cm., ring size P½, fitted Verdura cases for bracelet and ring (3) - Sold for £15,600

Footnote: Fulco Santostefano della Cerda, Duke of Verdura (1890-1978) was born in Palermo, Sicily. In the early 1920s, his lifelong friends Cole and Linda Porter introduced him to the already famous Coco Chanel. It was this introduction that was to change his life. Verdura moved to Paris in 1926 to work as a textile designer for Chanel. After recognising his exceptional talent, Chanel asked him to redesign her jewellery collection. He also created signature pieces to complement Chanel’s fashion collections. In 1934 he moved to Los Angeles to work as head designer for Paul Flato. With the backing of the Porter’s, Verdura opened his own show room in New York in 1939, followed by a shop in Paris in 1947. His jewels were mainly inspired by memories of his family home in Palmero. He was bold with his designs; his use of colourful semi-precious stones combined with fine and detailed gold work created some of the most imaginative jewellery of the 20th century. In 1973, Verdura retired to London to write his memoirs. In 1985, Ward Landrigan, a long time admirer of Verdura, bought the business and today the firm continues to produce fine jewels using the designs from Verdura’s original sketchbooks.

Bonhams. Fine Jewellery, 4 Dec 2008. New Bond Street. Copyright © 2002-2008 Bonhams 1793 Ltd., Images and Text All Rights Reserved. www.bonhams.com