he contemporarTy jewellery designer, Suzanne Syz is renowned for her highly original and unconventional designs which draw on many sources for inspiration. Born in Zurich and educated in Paris, she moved to New York City in the 1980s and became part of the circle of Andy Warhol, Jean Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, Francesco Clemente and Jeff Koons. The nearness of these revolutionary creative spirits and their work not only greatly impacted her contemporary art collection; it also proved to be a formidable catalyst for her jewellery creations. Radiant colours, audacious compositions and unusual materials have become trademarks of Suzanne Syz’s work.

Three factors reign supreme: violet (her signature colour); the 1950s-1960s décor and a selection of her art collection which includes a marsh- mellow Nelson sofa; a Warhol stitched photograph of Liza Minelli; Guy Bourdin photographs from the 1960s and 1970s and a Sylvie Fleury cover of Kate Moss. It also emanates a subtle sense of genuine luxury, a rarity in our times. However, Syz jewellery merits the epithet without a hint of doubt. The extreme attention to detail and the remarkable calibre of craftsmanship that goes into realizing her creations, provide a level of quality and excellence which has become exception rather than rule.

Another factor which sets apart Syz jewellery is her use of material, which ranges from the application of ‘traditional’ gems such as sapphires, diamonds, emeralds, fine stones including spinels, tourmaline paraïba and tsavorites, often used in combination with titanium, gold and enamel. It is clear that the material expertise, technical knowledge and artistry of her Geneva-based team of craftsmen are indispensible for turning Syz’s unconventional and often highly complex designs into glamorous and one-of-a-kind jewellery creations which have charmed clients such as Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and the Archduchess Francesca von Habsburg-Thyssen.