In the thrifty years after the Wall Street Crash, many Cartier jewels used fewer large diamonds and more colourful secondary stones. What they lost in intrinsic value they more than made up for with the ‘wow’ factor.
Two Cartier jewels offered by Elmwood’s (20% buyer’s premium) in London on June 10 dated from c.1940: a bracelet comprising circular carved rock crystal links punctuated by sugarloaf coral cabochons, and an arrow-form clip brooch set with a row of step cut tourmalines with old cut diamonds providing contrast.
Both fully signed, the former also with French assay marks, these performed with gusto – selling at £16,000 (estimate £5000-8000) and £8500 (estimate £6000-8000) respectively.