Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

A diamond and gem set ‘open and shut flower’ brooch by Cartier, circa 1965, the flowerhead with articulated petals opening to reveal ‘tremored’ stamen claw set with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies, the stem with sliding mechanism highlighted with a single ruby, the petals and stem of wirework composition, with two pin clip fitting to the reverse, signed ‘Cartier’, numbered ‘015538’ to the pin mount and ‘2627’ to the stem, with two French assay marks to the pin, length 8cm. £5000-7000

Cartier launched their popular ‘open and shut flower’ brooches in 1962. For similar examples dated 1967 and 1969, see ‘The Cartier Collection: Jewellery’ by Francoise Chaillie and Eric Nussbaum, published by Flammarion, 20 November 2004, page 291.