Suzanne Belperron, French jewelry designer, was born in Bescanon in 1900. She studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris where she most probably met Germaine Boivin, sister of Rene Boivin, the famous jeweler. Although Boivin died in 1919, the business was taken over by his wife, Jeanne Boivin, a sister of Paul Poiret. Suzanne Belperron worked for the Maison Boivin from 1921 to 1931, during which time she married Jean Belperron (1927). In 1933, she entered into partnership with pearl dealer Bernard Herz and the jewelry she created was sold under the name of Herz in his shop at 59, rue de Chateaudun. In the 1930's her major clients were the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Elsa Schiaparclli, Franck Sinatra, Diana Vreeland, Fred Astaire and French novelist Colette. During WW2, her partner Bernard Herz was deported to a concentration camp where he died in 1943, while his son Jean was taken war prisoner. To safeguard the company, Suzanne Belperron transferred it in her name and in 1945, on Jean's return, they both agreed to change the company name to Jean Ilertz-Suzanne Belperron, which remained so until her retirement in 1974. Nonetheless, Suzanne Belperron continued to design, meet and advise her old clients until her death in Paris in 1983. In her art, Suzanne Belperron distanced herself from tradition, mixing freely colors and materials. Her inspiration came from nature, starfish, seashells, butterflies, leaves and flowers, of which she sought to fathom the essence as opposed to achieving realistic renderings. She therefore transformed these forms taken from nature into abstract creations exuding life and sensuality. In particular, her style was characterized by a new and extensive use of rock crystal.