Art Moderne gold, platinum and diamond necklace by Suzanne Belperron, Paris, circa 1940

This is a wonderful example of 20th century jewellery design at its best.

We both worked closely on the sale of The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor which took place at Sotheby’s in April 1987, and the collection included many of Belperron’s creations. The catalogue for the jewellery auction was the first such publication to introduce her designs to a wider public and ever since we have been passionate about the work of Suzanne Belperron.

Our admiration for her creativity and originality was enhanced when we were awarded the sale of her personal jewellery collection at Sotheby’s in 2012. Working directly with Olivier Baroin and his extraordinary collection of Belperron designs and other enlightening archive material, we took a deep dive into her creativity in order to write the sale catalogue and to make it as informative as possible.

This necklace clearly ranks among the most impressive of Belperron’s necklace creations, and is truly emblematic of her style; which inevitably reminds us of her famous dictum: ‘My Style is my Signature’.

 

Suzanne Belperron at her desk, 1951, the gold, platinum and diamond necklace appears in front of her

The design of Belperron’s necklace evokes the shape of ceremonial collars found in civilisations as diverse as Celtic, African and even Southeast Asian.

Vintage Miao Paktong ceremonial collar necklace, Laos

The necklace in an advertisement published in Vogue, 1948

Written by

 

 

Further details:
A bib necklace featuring gold and platinum alternating curved bands as the centrepiece; set with European- and old-mine cut diamonds; capped by conical terminals with diamond accents; attached by a snake chain; mounted in platinum and 18-karat gold

European- and old-mine cut diamonds, total weighing approximately 14 carats

Inner circumference: 15 inches / 38cm

CERTIFICATION
Olivier Baroin Certificate of Authenticity no. 200311, dated March 11, 2020, stating the necklace is Suzanne Belperron designed circa 1942 by Groené et Darde

LITERATURE
Corbett, Patricia, et. al. Jewelry by Suzanne Belperron. London: Thames & Hudson , 2015, p. 178 (on the desk)

Femina, December, 1948

Raulet, Sylvia, and Olivier Baroin. Suzanne Belperron. New York: Antique Collector’s Club, 2011, p. 211

Vogue Paris, February 1948

 

For further information on Suzanne Belperron’s gold, platinum and diamond necklace:
info@understanding-jewellery.com