Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Suzanne Belperron (1900–83) may not be a household name, but anyone who knows jewelry will recognize her as one of the industry’s 20th-century greats. She was born Suzanne Vuillerme in Saint-Claude, France, a center of the French diamond-cutting industry. Displaying an early talent for design, Belperron studied at the Besançon École des Beaux-Arts before moving to Paris and landing her first job as a model-maker and designer at French jewelry house Boivin when she was 19. Within a few years, she was named codirector — a meteoric rise that would jump-start her legacy.
In 1932, Belperron left Boivin to partner with gemstone and natural pearl dealer Bernard Herz, with whom she would develop her distinct avant-garde aesthetic. Unlike most jewelry designers of the day, Belperron decided against signing her works, feeling so confident in her uniqueness that she declared, “My style is my signature.” Her exceptionally dramatic works were nothing like the angular Art Deco pieces that were popular at the time, taking on large-scale sculptural forms and featuring various design motifs from cultures around the world. The designer was a favorite of couturier Elsa Schiaparelli, who modeled her Belperron jewelry in Vogue in 1933. (Belperron jewels would grace the cover of Vogue Paris in 1934.) She would also count Diana Vreeland and Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, among her fans.
World War II changed everything. When the Germans occupied Paris, the Jewish Herz transferred the company to Belperron in order to preserve the business. Both would later be arrested by the Nazis. Belperron was released; Herz was sent to the Drancy internment camp. He later died at Auschwitz, despite Belperron’s best efforts to get him released.
Belperron kept the firm going during the war and after its end Herz’s son, Jean — a released prisoner of war — became Belperron’s equal partner per Bernard Herz’s final wishes. The two would work together under the name Jean Herz-Suzanne Belperron for the rest of her career. In 1963, Belperron was awarded the rank of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, and she quietly retired in 1974.
In 1987, there was a resurgence of interest in Belperron’s work, thanks to the auction of the Duchess of Windsor’s personal collection, which included at least 16 pieces by the designer. In 1999, Ward Landrigan of Verdura acquired both the rights to the Belperron name as well as a design archive of thousands of drawings, leading to the relaunch of the brand in 2015 with a new salon on Fifth Avenue in New York.
Find Suzanne Belperron rings, brooches and other jewelry on 1stDibs today.
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Rock Crystal, Platinum, 18k Gold
1940s French Retro Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1960s Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1930s French Retro Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1940s French Retro Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1930s French Retro Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Sterling S...
1940s Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
1950s French Retro Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Mid-20th Century French Modern Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Emerald, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold, Gold
Mid-20th Century French Modern Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold
Mid-20th Century Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Crystal, Diamond, Rock Crystal, 18k Gold, Platinum
1950s French Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold
1920s Art Deco Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Platinum
2010s Israeli Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Sapphire, Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1920s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Platinum
1950s Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s American Modern Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Belle Époque Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Green Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Gar...
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Rock Crystal, Onyx, Crystal, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Rock Crystal, Turquoise, Crystal, Sterling Silver
1930s French Modernist Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1990s French Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s French Retro Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Emerald, Multi-gemstone, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century French Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1950s French Retro Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s French Retro Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
1940s Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
20th Century Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
1930s French Retro Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Citrine, Diamond, Yellow Gold
1940s French Vintage Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
20th Century French Suzanne Belperron Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold
Suzanne Belperron jewelry & watches for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Suzanne Belperron
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 22, 2024Suzanne Belperron used a variety of materials for her jewelry pieces. However, she was particularly well known for combining rock crystal with diamonds. Over the course of her life, she worked with yellow gold, platinum and sterling silver and also incorporated emeralds, rubies, sapphires and other gems into her pieces. Find a collection of Suzanne Belperron jewelry on 1stDibs.