A Cartier bracelet has recently sold for a record price of £4.5m at a Sotheby’s auction. The bracelet was owned by Wallis Simpson, who was made famous by the affair that she had with Edward VIII. The famous affair, of course led to his abduction and the bracelet formed part of a sale which included twenty Cartier pieces that had previously been owned by the couple.
The bracelet was the most expensive ever sold at a Sotheby’s auction and also the most expensive Cartier object they had ever sold and therefore entered their record books in two ways. It was a diamond bracelet in the shape of a panther with the clasp fastening at the mouth. The whole collection of items sold raised almost £8m in total.
One of the reasons for the popularity of the items was the fact that Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, was known for her good taste in fashion, however the auction raised a lot more than the predicted £3m. Other items in the sale included a Cartier flamingo clip containing emeralds, sapphires, diamonds and ruby’s and that raised over £1.5m.
Many people were enchanted by Edward VIII’s love affair and forgave him for giving up his role in life because he was so in love with Wallis Simpson, in fact they saw it as the greatest sacrifice anyone could have made. This added to the fact that she was such an elegant woman who was admired for her fashion and of course the links with the royal family. makes for a collection of items that were always likely to make a great deal of money. The fact that they were all Cartier items, of course added to their value and with them being items which were made by Cartier following the requirements of the Duke and Duchess, they are indeed rare and interesting, as well as, of course, being completely unique.