31 Aug Daring, Dynamic… Suzanne Belperron

Our friend, the jewelry designer Christopher Walling, was a friend of the one and only Suzanne Belperron. He describes her as a woman of extreme aesthetic sensibility, her home filled with pre-Columbian art, modern French furniture, Tang Dynasty horses. Her personal style was carefully edited, ”It was always white with pearls or white with diamonds. Green with emeralds, blue with sapphires. And it may not sound like it would work but it did.”

Belperrons’ aesthetic was so unique that it would end up serving as her signature. Unapologetically bold, innovative, she became one of the first female master jewelers of the 20th century and she was followed by Christian Dior, The Duchess of Windsor and many avid collectors and style-setters. She did not sign her pieces or seek recognition… She did not need to.

Belperron began her career in Paris as a draftswoman for Maison Boivin in 1919, which was a leading firm at the time. She became the lead designer there in four years. Having spent much creative energy making the deco jewelry popular at the time, she tired of rigid lines and constrictions and started to work in more organic forms. She left the House of Boivin to work with Bernard Herz, a gemstone and pearl dealer in 1932. Herz understood her style and gave her free reign. She continued the House even through World War II when Herz was taken away by the Nazis.

Her designs were sought after by nobility, celebrities and socialites but limited production and the unique nature of each design accounts for the scarcity of her work; estimates put the scope of her work at 3,000 to 5,000 jewels total. When her older pieces become available, they often fetch high prices. We are fortunate to present three pieces here; the first two are for sale (and shown on our website) the third has recently sold .

Call the DKF Personal Assistant
(917) 841-8405
to order or for further details