Perfection isn’t achieved overnight—it’s the result of persistence, refinement, and a relentless quest for excellence. This philosophy has propelled the rise of Barry Verragio, Founder, Verragio, transforming his namesake brand known for engagement rings and wedding bands that blend time-honoured elegance with modern innovation.
With over 25 years of experience designing fine jewellery for some of the industry’s most prestigious names, Barry Verragio has built a solid reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and a resolute commitment to quality.
His journey began as an apprentice, where he first polished his skills in the delicate art of jewellery making.
To enhance his innate design talent, he pursued formal education at the renowned Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
Through years of dedicated practice, he mastered the art of ring design, eventually pioneering an exclusive setting technique that marked a turning point—a spark that ignited a vision to redefine engagement ring artistry.
Today, Barry’s passion endures, fuelled by a commitment to crafting rings as distinctive as the love stories they symbolise.
Can you share the story of how Verragio was founded and what inspired its creation as a luxury jewellery brand?
After years working in product development and design for some of America’s most renowned jewellery houses, I observed a void in the market for engagement rings and wedding bands with old-world details and emotional resonance. I launched the Verragio brand to allow clients to create rings that reflected their own, unique love stories through these refined, customisable elements.
What are the pivotal milestones in Verragio’s history that have established it as one of America’s top-end retail houses, and how has it maintained its reputation as a world-renowned bridal jewellery designer for over 25 years?
At our launch, Verragio’s bridal designs reflected our simultaneous commitment to innovative technology and refined elements of design.
The introduction of the Venetian collection in 2010 cemented our reputation for iconic elegance, with its Venetian lace, Verragio beading, customisable shank options, and diamond tiara.
As customers came to us looking for extraordinary solitaire settings, we introduced the Tradition collection in 2018 to feature our unique two-tone capability and precision setting. And now, with the 2024 launch of the Vanguard collection, we’ve reimagined ways to enhance and embellish bridal rings for a new generation. Our innate ability to set trends and respond to customers’ desires keeps us at the forefront of the bridal jewellery market.
How do the unique stone settings and intricate details in Verragio’s designs contribute to their timeless and ethereal beauty? What specific elements does Verragio incorporate to offer refreshing twists on classic ring silhouettes?
We pride ourselves on being able to accomplish, through excellent craftsmanship and innovative technology, design features that are impossible to replicate. From the lightweight stone settings that highlight our diamonds’ brilliance to the delicate lace details we’re able to create in different colours of gold, we give our clients many ways to make their rings reflect their own personalities and unique love stories.
How have consumer preferences in the luxury jewellery market evolved over the past few years, and how has Verragio adapted to these changes?
The rise of lab-grown diamonds has allowed consumers to increase the size of their centre stone without an exorbitant budget, so we’ve found that those clients are looking for more substantial settings to showcase those stones.
Similarly, fancy-shaped centre stones are more available, and we’ve built models specifically for ovals, marquises, and fancy square-cuts.
With eternity bands, we’re creating more fancy shapes as well to coordinate with unique centre stones.
Are there specific trends—such as sustainability, personalization, or digital shopping—that you’ve noticed gaining traction among your clientele?
All of the above! Because our jewellery is made to last, sustainability is in our DNA. We’re currently pursuing certification from the Responsible Jewellery Council to codify our sustainability practices to the industry high standard.
Personalisation has always been key to Verragio designs, as we know keenly how important our jewellery is to the people who wear it, and we are committed to giving them opportunities to make each piece special and specific.
And digital marketing has always been our wheelhouse—we were early adopters of several social media platforms and reach clients around the world with our social media and website, providing spectacular imagery and functionality to help them make their dreams come true.
Do you partner with other high-end retailers or jewellers to expand your reach, and if so, how extensive is that network?
We have selected our retail network to provide the best customer service experience for consumers looking to invest in Verragio jewelry. We have over 200 retail partners across the United States and a handful in other countries, as well. We choose partners who are capable of the elevated consumer experience our clients deserve.
What are Verragio’s expansion plans for the next five years, both in terms of physical stores and online presence?
In 2023, we launched our fine jewellery collection, which gave Verragio fans the opportunity to build their Verragio jewel boxes with necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and fashion rings that have our beloved design elements and signature refinement.
We’re planning to expand the fine jewellery collections while continuing to debut new bridal collections, some of which will speak directly to each other.
We want the Verragio client to grow with us and mark more of life’s milestones with a lasting piece of fine jewellery. This new product category also allows us to work with a different network of retail partners and expand our physical presence.
In addition, we are finalising a website redesign that will make Verragio.com more dynamic and impactful for consumers and retailers alike.
As a leading retailer, what are some of the challenges you foresee in the luxury jewellery market over the next year—whether economic, competitive, or operational?
Economic uncertainty never bodes well for the luxury market, but we are confident that our customers will continue to tell their love stories with Verragio jewelry—after all, true love conquers all. We definitely stay informed about the price of gold, though we’ve found that these fluctuations tend to reinforce the lasting value of fine jewellery in the consumer’s mind, and they view their purchases as investments.