Lacloche / Lacloche Frères Archives

Seriously bad-ass Art Deco diamond bracelet.

April 19, 2013

This bracelet is all like, “oh, you thought I was going to play nice? You’re wrong.”

1930's diamond and platinum bracelet, Lacloche Frères. Via Diamonds in the Library.

I would not mess with a lady who had this on, would you? That said: I aspire to be that lady. It’s sort of like the C-3PO of glamorous 1930’s women who probably wear a lot of silk and feathers. I realize I may have departed the realm of logic, but just look how cool it is!

This spectacular piece is by Lacloche Frères, and probably dates to the 1930’s. The tapered platinum cuff is hinged, so that’s how you get it on and off. It’s composed of pierced bands highlighted at the front by brilliant-cut diamonds and applied with stepped epaulet-shaped motifs set with bullet-shaped and baguette stones. It is further enhanced by a pavé-set brilliant-cut diamond border. It is extraordinarily awesome.

This bracelet was listed in Sothebys’ November 2007 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

Art Deco sapphire and diamond sautoir, Lacloche Frères.

April 10, 2013

I promised you there would be more sautoirs and now more sautoirs there are.

This, clearly, is not one of those ones made of pearls. This Art Deco sapphire and diamond sautoir is one of those ones made entirely of jewels. Diamonds, in this case. And two sapphires. And perfection.

Long view of an Art Deco sapphire and diamond sautoir by Lacloche Frères, circa 1925. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This spectacular Art Deco sapphire and diamond sautoir is the work of Lacloche Frères. It was made in France in 1925. Both chain and pendant are articulated, which means those diamonds all move as you move. I can only imagine how mesmerizing it is to watch someone walk around wearing this.

That magnificent chain is made up of baguette diamonds, clusters of marquise-shaped diamonds, and links set with old European-cut diamonds. These total 22 carats and lead to two triangle shaped diamonds, which total .80 carats. At the back of the chain is an emerald-cut sapphire weighing approximately 4.25 carats.

At the front of the chain hangs the pendant: an emerald-cut sapphire weighing 29.50 carats, framed by square-cut, bullet-shaped, hexagonal and triangular-shaped diamonds totaling approximately 2.75 carats. This leads to the diamond cascade of marquise-shaped diamonds, which adds an additional 5.15 carats.

A closer look at the largest wonderful blue sapphire on this Art Deco sapphire and diamond sautoir by Lacloche Frères, circa 1925. Via Diamonds in the Library.

Not too shabby.

This stunning Art Deco sapphire and diamond sautoir was listed in Sotheby’s April 2012 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Sotheby’s.

Art Deco diamond rose brooch by Lacloche.

February 20, 2013

Sometimes you look at a piece of jewelry and it looks like a piece of jewelry. Other times it looks like a tiny piece of art that you could wear if you were lucky.

This diamond rose brooch is a little rectangle of diamond perfection.

Designed by Lacloche in 1925, this brooch is designed as a pavé-set diamond sculpted rose, extending single and circular-cut diamond tapered leaves and buds. The rose is bordered by in a single and baguette-cut diamond rectangular frame. The diamonds are mounted in platinum and 18 karat white gold.

I would use this brooch to anchor a gorgeous, jewel-toned scarf to a black dress or to adorn the lapel of a beautiful coat or trench.

This Art Deco diamond rose brooch was listed in Christie’s 22 April 2010 Jewels auction. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.

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