When I was a kid in Central Illinois I took great joy in getting a letter addressed to me. They might have been from an aunt or uncle, or maybe just an ad, but I was thrilled to go to the mailbox.
Today I opened a nondescript package from a jeweler in Texas and once again I got the same feeling as that kid at the mailbox. The jeweler, without telling me, sent two extraordinary Cartier pieces from completely different eras and I thought it would be fun to share with you.
One was a 1940s Art Deco 6-carat total weight natural ruby ring with a 3-carat natural sapphire in the center (right). The design is outrageous and has proper signatures and numbers. Though the rubies were scratched and worn, and one was chipped, I offered $12,000 because of the design.
In the same package, was the iconic bracelet of the late 20th century — the Panthère de Cartier — with approximately 4 carats of almost perfect diamonds, an emerald eye and an onyx collar, from the 1980s.
The bracelet is interesting, because these usually have auction estimates of $20,000-$40,000. Valuation of this one is difficult because only a few have come up for auction and they usually end up in the range of $30,000-$60,000, but they sometimes bring more at auction’s end.
We offered to sell it at our auction with a $30,000- $50,0000 estimate, but we are hoping to get more. This is testament to the power of the Cartier name, since the bracelet only has 4 carats of diamonds and $2,100 worth of gold. As always, we will report back with the final results.
Always buying vintage Cartier, Tiffany, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Elizabeth Locke jewelry. We make house calls. You have read about us in Business Insider, Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and Forbes Magazine.
OLD NORTHEAST JEWELERS.
FINE JEWELRY & WATCHES. BUYING & SELLING SINCE 1984.
St. Petersburg: 1131 4th St. N. 727.898.4377.
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