Diamond Eyes: Christie's Offers Cartier Cat Brooch
September 05, 24
(IDEX Online) - A striking Cartier brooch of carved black jasper, set with two marquise-shaped yellow diamond eyes, is among 190 lots currently offered in an online auction by Christie's New York.
The unique 1962 piece, entitled Black Alley Cat (estimate $15,000 to $20,000) is from the vast jewelry collection that belonged to former fashion model Nina Dyer.
She kept black panthers - gifts from her first husband, Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza - as pets.
Her second husband, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, added several Cartier Great Cat jewels to her collection of cuffs, bangle bracelets, rings, jabot pins and brooches. Dyer died aged 35 in 1965.
Christie's does not provide details on the yellowdiamonds, and cautions that they have not been tested for natural color.
Leading the sale is a pair of Boucheron diamond cluster earrings, featuring pear brilliant-cut diamonds of up to 8 carats ($450,000 to $550,000) and an 8.88 carat diamond ring (D color VVS1 clarity) offered without reserve ($300,000 to $400,000).
The Jewels Online sale, including lots by Bulgari, Cartier, Gucci, Van Cleef & Arpels, ends on 11 September.
Pic courtesy Christie's.