Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
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.
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1940s French Modern Vintage Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 2000s Unknown Contemporary Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Retro Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
White Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Palladium
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Ruby, Diamond, 14k Gold
1940s Vintage Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Unknown Vintage Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 17th Century American Modern Antique Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Diamond, Platinum, Enamel, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century American Modern Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1940s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Platinum
1940s French Retro Vintage Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Retro Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Diamond, Citrine, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
20th Century American Modern Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Enamel
1940s French Vintage Suzanne Belperron Fashion Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Suzanne Belperron fashion rings 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.