Suzanne Belperron

The most influential woman of jewelry design.

Suzanne Belperron refused to sign her pieces, stating, “My style is my signature”—and thus, her name was largely forgotten by the time she died in 1983. But from 1919 to 1975, the Parisian designer created some of the most original jewelry of the 20th century, setting precious stones in carved rock crystal, chalcedony, and even wood. Her organic shapes and global motifs adorned the most fashionable women of the day, including the Duchess of Windsor, Diana Vreeland, Josephine Baker, and Elsa Schiaparelli. Since the 1987 auction of the Duchess of Windsor’s jewels, the value of Belperron designs has steeply escalated and they have become highly collectible.