I just love this photo Sotheby’s took of this sautoir on its own authenticity certificate:
Just look at it lounging there. “Yeah, that’s me.”
Cartier made this glorious necklace in 1924 and is designed as a series of openwork oval and bell-shaped links set with 13 old European-cut and cushion-shaped diamonds totaling approximately 37.75 carats. (See? Impressive already.) The necklace centers a a larger cushion-shaped diamond weighing approximately 4.65 carats. Dangling from the largest center diamond is a lavalliere pendant set with 7 cushion-shaped and old European-cut diamonds which total approximately 37.05 carats.
Sotheby’s refers to it as a “sautoir with a lavalliere pendant,” although I though sautoirs were typically longer than this – it’s only 15 inches. Or so I thought, until I read the description more closely. The necklace was extended by a later date through the addition of a 12.5 inch extender. The extender, which is separated into three parts, is set with an additional 13 cushion-shaped and old European-cut diamonds weighing approximately 22.30 carats. You can tell by looking at the top of the piece that part of it is slightly different.
This incredible thing was listed in Sotheby’s December 2011 Magnificent Jewels auction. It is the proud holder of a Sotheby’s record for auction price. It went for a very respectable $1,650,500.
All images and info thanks to Sotheby’s.
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A beautiful piece of history! If only it remained in the family! Would love to know where and/or who owns the necklace today?!
It’s wonderful, isn’t it?? Oh, to try this on just once…sigh.