Verdura and Belperron // Lasting Legacy

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Charleston Library Society

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CLS Verdura and Belperron

April 23 @ 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

$10.00 - $15.00

Jewelry that stands the test of time. Join us to learn about the legacies of two master jewelers, Duke Fulco di Verdura and Suzanne Belperron, each of whom trace their start during 1920s Paris scene and continue to inspire today. Separately known for stand-out icons such as signature cuffs worn by Coco Chanel, through to exclusive designs for clientele such as Elsa Schiaparelli, the Duchess of Windsor and Diana Vreeland – the exquisite artistry behind the pieces is that to be studied and admired. We look forward to hosting Nico Landrigan, the current President of both jewelry companies, who continues to build and expand the legacies of each designer, drawing from their rich archives of original sketches, less than half of which have ever been realized.

About Verdura

Duke Fulco di Verdura (1899–1978) began his career in 1920s Paris, designing the iconic Maltese Cross Cuffs for his friend Coco Chanel. In 1934 Verdura ventured to America and designed jewels for stars of the era, including Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. He officially became an “American jeweler” on September 1, 1939, the day war broke out in Europe, when his friends, Cole Porter and Vincent Astor, financed his debut on Fifth Avenue. With Europe off-limits during the war, Verdura gained a following of high-profile clients among New York society and fashion’s best-dressed list, enticed by Verdura’s bold yet understated “chic”. In 1985, Ward Landrigan, head of Sotheby’s US jewelry department, purchased the company, including its archive of nearly 10,000 original sketches, and set about to bring Verdura’s timeless designs to a new generation of collectors. His son Nico joined the company in 2004 and currently serves as President alongside Ward, Verdura’s CEO. In 2014, the company celebrated its 75th anniversary with a 3-month retrospective exhibition that attracted over 8,000 attendees. Today, in addition to its flagship salon located at 745 Fifth Avenue overlooking Central Park, Verdura operates boutiques in Bergdorf Goodman, select Neiman Marcus stores, London Jewelers in Manhasset, LI, Greenleaf & Crosby by Win & Natalie Betteridge in Palm Beach, Famille Jewelers in Greenwich, Mindham Fine Jewelry in Toronto, and Marissa Collection in Naples, FL.

About Belperron

Belperron is a fine jeweler selling vintage jewelry and reprised designs by the late designer, Suzanne Belperron (1900-1983). After beginning her career with Boivin in 1919, Belperron pioneered a new aesthetic in jewelry: sensual, tactile and arrestingly modern. With influential clients such as Elsa Schiaparelli, the Duchess of Windsor and Diana Vreeland, Belperron is widely recognized as one of the most influential designers of the 20 th century. In 2015, Belperron LLC opened its first flagship salon in over forty years on New York City’s Fifth Avenue, designed by noted architect Daniel Romualdez. Bringing all of her work under one roof, the Belperron salon features the largest selection of vintage Belperron, many from important private collections from around the world. Today, the Belperron collection, created entirely from her archive of over 9,300 gouache paintings and designs, embodies the essence of Belperron’s aesthetic. Nico Landrigan, President of Verdura and Belperron, is responsible for the revival of Madame Belperron’s work. His mission: to find and create bold and timeless jewelry that​ ​speaks to a new generation of jewelry collectors.

About Nico Landrigan

Nico Landrigan is President of Verdura & Belperron, two privately held fine jewelry houses headquartered in New York. He is responsible for both companies’ strategic business development, initiating domestic and international expansion through the two distinct New York salons and various Verdura wholesale partnerships. His mission: to create bold and timeless jewelry that speaks to a new generation of jewelry lovers. A Manhattan native, Nico grew up in the jewelry business alongside his father, Ward Landrigan, accompanying him on international stone-buying trips from an early age. Nico earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and served briefly in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. In 2004, Nico joined Ward at Verdura and began working closely with the professional team he now leads. In 2009, the same year as the company’s 70th Anniversary, Nico was appointed President of Verdura. In 2014, Verdura celebrated its 75th anniversary with a retrospective exhibition, The Power of Style, curated by Carolina and Reinaldo Herrera and their daughter Patricia Lansing. The retrospective, overseen by Nico, received international news coverage, including a segment on CBS Sunday Morning, and attracted over 8,000 attendees over three months. In 2015, Nico re-launched Belperron, the culmination of a 25-year project with his father. As part of the re-launch, he and Ward Landrigan co-authored a critically acclaimed biography of Suzanne Belperron’s life and work, Jewelry by Suzanne Belperron. Along with the revival of her jewelry designs and the new Belperron salon on Fifth Avenue, the book pays tribute to one of the 20th century’s master jewelers. A collector of rocks and shells since the age of three, Nico keeps a trained eye out for exceptional gemstones and one-of-a-kind vintage pieces to further develop Belperron and Verdura’s collections. This provides his clients the unique benefit of buying both new products and vintage pieces, many of them from the finest private collections from around the world.