Happy Friday, darlings! I’ve got a twofer for you today – a pair of very different but equally thrilling Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelets.
Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelet #1 is big and bold. It’s circa 1925, but possesses a magnificent boldness that I generally associate with Deco pieces from closer to 1940. It looks like it should go with bias-cut satin, not flapper beads.
But I’m not complaining. It’s a forward-thinking piece of heaven. Also, the top part of the piece – the juicy, gemmy part – is two matching Art Deco emerald and diamond dress clips that detach and can be worn separately.
The dress clips are platinum with old, circular, baguette and square-cut diamonds and rectangular-cut emeralds. The bangle attachment is 18k white gold. Both dress clips and the bangle are signed Cartier, Paris. Please also note the yellow gold prongs around the emeralds. So wonderful.
I wonder if it’s possible that the dress clips predate the bangle? If so, this is a wonderful after-the-fact convertible piece.
On to beauty #2 – this Art Deco emerald and diamond stunner is sensual and sophisticated in a way that is simultaneously classic and exotic, bold and delicate. You know I love a tassel.
This beauty is also from 1925, and also French, although it’s unsigned. It features a flexible openwork bracelet with circular, baguette and hexagonal-cut collet-set diamonds alongside richly green rectangular-cut emeralds, leading to a delightful tassel of circular-cut diamonds.
I think my very favorite part is that tiny ring of emeralds just before the fringes of the tassel begin. Such a perfect touch.
It reminds me of this all-diamond Van Cleef and Arpels tassel bracelet, which is from the same era. And as much as I love bracelet #1….I would choose Mr. Tassel here over it in a heartbeat.
What about you, darlings? Who is Team Tassel and who is Team Dress Clip Bangle?
These Art Deco emerald and diamond bracelets were both listed in Christie’s April 2016 Magnificent Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.
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Oh, don’t make me choose! I love anything convertible, so really like the dress clip bangle. And I approve of the yellow gold prongs on these emeralds.
But I think I’m Team Tassel. I’d be afraid I’d bang the tassel around and beat it up if I wore this bracelet on my wrist, but I’d love to have that problem!
At my advanced age of 57, I’ve come around to bracelets. They are definitely leisure items for me; I don’t wear them during my day-to-day activities. Bracelets usually don’t fit my 5 1/2″ wrists, they literally fall off or bang around. Pearl and bead bracelets are easy to shorten by restringing, but metal cuffs and bracelets are a different story. But if I could afford either or both of the beauties above, I could certainly afford to have them custom-fitted, lol! In the meantime, I’m making a conscious effort to wear more bracelets, because they look great.
If that Tassel bracelet, it would be worn Every. Day. But, as is… I’m firmly in the Team Dress clip Bracelet Camp — I love me some convertible jewelry!
If that tasslel bracelet *** was a necklace *** ;^)
I’m with you on that – make it into a necklace! If money were no object, of course!
Ooooh my goodness – that would be such an amazing necklace.
Yes, just continue that same design to the back clasp, another eight-nine inches or so, for a mere million dollars or more!
Yummmmmm. Yes, please.
Totally legit. I love them both!