About Suzanne Belperron

Suzanne Belperron occupies a special place in jewelry history as perhaps the most influential and important female jewelry designer of all time. She got her start as a designer for the Parisian firm René Boivin, where she was responsible for some of the firm’s most innovative ideas. In 1932, Bernard Herz, a Parisian stone dealer, recognized her avant-garde talent and hired Belperron to design for herself under the B. Herz name. Garnering reviews ranging from “brilliant” to “barbaric,” Belperron’s creations adorned many of the most fashionable women of the day. Famously never signing her pieces –” my style is my signature,” she would say – Belperron’s originality continuously kept the firm on the cutting edge until her retirement 1974.

About Retro

The jewelry period dating from 1935 to 1950, often referred to as Retro, was set against the backdrop of economic depression and World War II. As women entered the workforce and the clothing moved to a more subdued and simple place, jewelry stepped into fill the fashion void. Retro jewelry was all about bigger, bolder, and brighter. Taking cues from the fantasy and glamour of Hollywood, jewelry was created on a larger scale than it had been for decades. With platinum reserved for the war effort, gold resurged in popularity, and different colors of gold were created in shades of rose and green. With the limited supply of diamonds and precious gemstones, jewelers looked to citrine, amethyst, topaz, and aquamarine to bring color and character to a piece. Bold cocktail rings with large rectangular cut gemstones, oversized gold bracelets with links and buckles, and whimsical charm bracelets were the signature pieces of the period. Common motifs included birds, flower baskets, dancers, bows and shells.

About Vintage Jewelry

As curators of 3 centuries of design, we look at jewelry with a discerning eye to find the most inspired, exquisitely crafted pieces. We are proud to share the world’s most renowned vintage jewelry from the greatest design periods the world has ever known.