Join the Hillwood museum shop for an exclusive pop up!

Stop by the second floor of the visitor center to browse and purchase a beautiful selection of elegant and captivating jewelry pieces from The Elegant Muse.

About The Elegant Muse

Founded by Suzanne Paynter, The Elegant Muse creates one-of-a-kind heirloom jewelry created with antique & vintage treasures. According to Suzanne, her journey towards becoming a distinguished jewelry designer was multifaceted, each aspect defined by a radiant allure. From a tender age, she was captivated by the luminescent brooches, necklaces, and earrings showcased within the vitrines of antique stores, a passion kindled during outings with her mother. Advancing in years, she engaged in a professional ballet career, adorned frequently in resplendent, gem-encrusted costumes that imbued a desire to incorporate such splendor into her daily attire. This longing led her to occasionally adorn herself with heirloom jewelry characterized by gleaming brooches and cherished rhinestone earrings, though these relics often remained hidden away. 

A transformative moment occurred when Suzanne adorned herself with her grandmother’s pearl necklace. Despite the pearls' modesty, the clasp was crafted with exceptional artistry. Inspired, she repurposed it into a pendant and rethreaded the pearls into a modern design, thus founding The Elegant Muse. Over the past eight years, Suzanne has curated vintage gems globally, meticulously crafting numerous pieces that encapsulate familial legacies of mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. Her artistry in The Elegant Muse collection transcends mere decoration; it revives and redefines cherished heirlooms into contemporary classics meant to be cherished anew. That is the quintessence of The Elegant Muse jewelry.