Brief Background Cartier
Cartier is a French luxury jewelry company founded in 1847 and opened its first boutique in 1859. In 1993, Cartier was merged with other brands, creating the Vendome Luxury Group. The Vendome Luxuruy Group became Richemont now owns 19 luxury brands including Van Cleef and Buccellati. Cartier is one of the most popular luxury jewelry designer brands with over 5M google searches per month. In 2023, Sotheby's sold nearly $30 million in Cartier jewelry with prices ranging from over $2.8 million to $5,000. "Signed jewels by the legendary maisons (including Cartier) continued to dazzle, as connoisseurs hunted particularly for iconic, vintage jewels that represented the best the great houses had to offer." Quig Bruning, SVP Head of Jewelry, Americas & EMEA.
Below we take a closer look at five of the most expensive pair of Cartier necklaces sold in 2023 at Sotheby's.
1. Cartier Necklace $2.8 million
The most expensive Cartier necklace sold for $2.8 million in 2023 at Sotheby's. The Cartier necklace features 34.91 carats of sapphires and 40.09 carats of diamonds and is from 1950. The Cartier necklace is a swag design and features five emerald- and square emerald-cut sapphires weighing 10.01, 7.66, 7.35, 5.45 and 4.44 carats, accented by round, baguette and square-cut diamonds. The sapphires are medium to medium deep blue, richly saturated, eye-clean to slightly included and are of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heating. The diamonds are approximately E-G color, predominantly VVS-VS clarity with a few SI clarity examples.
2. Cartier Necklace $1.3 million
The second most expensive Cartier necklace sold for $1.3 million in 2023 at Sotheby's. The Jadeite bead necklace has a diamond Cartier clasp. The necklace is set with 31 slightly graduated bright green jadeite beads of very good translucency, complete with a Cartier marquise-shaped diamond clasp, mounted in 18 karat white gold. The jadeite beads are approximately 16.93 to 14.68mm and tested as natural, known in the trade as "A Jade". The diamonds on the clasp are estimated to weigh approximately 2.80cts, about E-F colour, SI clarity.
3. Cartier Necklace $711,200
The third most expensive Cartier necklace sold for $711,200 in 2023 at Sotheby's. The Cartier Panthère necklace can be worn as a dramatic necklace and also as a brooch and necklace separately. The Cartier Panthère necklace features sapphires, diamonds, emeralds and onyx. For more than 100 years, the Cartier Panthère has been an iconic mainstay of Cartier design. The Panthère has provided seemingly endless inspiration for each generation of Cartier jewelry designers. The diamonds, stated to weigh a total of approximately 30.71 carats, are approximately F-G color, VVS-VS clarity. The sapphires, stated to weigh a total of approximately 16.57 carats, are medium blue and slightly included. The emeralds, stated to weigh a total of approximately 0.24 carat, are medium green and slightly included
4. Cartier Necklace $674,000
The fourth most expensive Cartier necklace sold for $674,000 in 2023 at Sotheby's. The Cartier necklace is a floral and foliate design set with brilliant-cut, pear- and cushion-shaped diamonds. The diamonds are D to F Colour, Internally Flawless to VS2 Clarity. The necklace was previously the property of a Princess.
5. Cartier Necklace $638,000
The fifth most expensive Cartier necklace sold for $638,000 in 2023 at Sotheby's. The Cartier necklace from 1930s features natural pearls and diamonds. It is composed of graduated rows of natural saltwater pearls decorated with spacers set with step-, circular-cut and baguette diamonds. The pearls are round to near round in shape and nicely graduated, displaying a creamy white body color with moderate rose and green overtones and good lustre.
Buying and Selling Cartier Necklaces at Sotheby's
Sotheby's often has impressive Cartier necklaces available at auction. Sotheby's also has a curated selection of Cartier necklaces available for immediate purchase. If you would like to view a Cartier necklace, a salon specialist would be happy to assist. Sotheby's is also able to source Cartier necklaces from its global supplier network.
- Explore upcoming jewelry at auctions in New York, London, Switzerland, Paris, and Hong Kong.
- Speak to a Salon Associate in New York, Zurich or Hong Kong to schedule an appointment.
- Speak to a Jewelry Specialist about selling a Cartier necklace.
Trust our worldwide network of leading jewelry specialists from a globally renowned auction house with a 280-year history.
