About Suzanne Belperron

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.

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.