This one’s for my mom (hi, mom!).
This bird bracelet is by Cartier and it is fabulous. I don’t always like jewelery that’s shaped like animals – it can be corny, vulgar, stupid. It can be a waste of diamonds. But not this one. The birds, which definitely look like cockatoos to me, despite what Christie’s says, are lovely. They’re delicately designed, not cartoonish, not overly stylized. This bracelet gives the impression that it just happens to be shaped like birds.
I think part of this piece’s success is due to the use of color. The birds are white diamonds with onyx beaks and and emerald eyes. The birds are accented by carved emerald leaves and sapphire and diamond flowers. It’s these details that tie it all together and make it look like a work of art, not a toy or a Lisa Frank sticker recreated in gems. Just look at them – they’re each a tiny statue.
This spectacular Cartier bird bracelet was sold as part of the Christie’s Hong Kong Jewels auction on 29 November 2010 for a very respectable $196,690. All information about and pictures of this piece are thanks to Christie’s.
Christie’s description:
AN EXCLUSIVE DIAMOND, EMERALD AND SAPPHIRE ‘PARROT’ BRACELET, BY CARTIER
Designed as a series of eight pavé-set diamond parrots with emerald eyes and onyx beaks, enhanced by carved emerald leaves and sapphire flowers with brilliant-cut diamond detail, mounted in 18k white gold, 18.0 cm long, with French assay mark for gold, in red leather Cartier case. Signed and with maker’s mark for Cartier, No. 829428. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Cartier.
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