Cartier London TV Bangle
Unexpectedly stumbled across some old jewellery photos as I was rooting around for a dull car registration document this weekend… this b&w one of a gold bangle (bottom image) must have been taken early 70s, when my g-father #JeanJacquesCartier was running Cartier London. He was Creative Director in #175NewBondStreet (the counterpart to #JeanneToussaint in Paris) through the #swingingsixties, and his innovative designs (such as the #crashwatch) reflect a backdrop of great change. Suddenly it was no longer the done thing to dress like one’s parents, and twinsets and #pearls made way for Mary Quant #miniskirts and chunky jewellery… As formal events like debutante balls were replaced with student rebellions and psychedelic music, Cartier found itself in the luxury industry at a difficult time: there was simply not the same demand for high-end jewels anymore. JJC was forced to adapt. Unlike many of his peers, he chose not to go down the costume jewellery route, but he did experiment with designs. This #goldbracelet (known as the #TVbangle) fitted the bill. It was rebellious in its shape, looked great with the fashions of the day and was less expensive than precious-gem jewels but it was still distinctly #CartierLondon, in terms of design and craftmanship. He didn’t make many – for JJC, part of the luxury was exclusivity - so it was timely to stumble across this photo, just after one of these bangles was sold at @bonhamsjewels. It has the numbering on the back but I don’t know the numbering of the #Bonhams bangle, so I can’t be sure it’s the exact same one, still it’s extremely similar! The estimate for the 1973 #goldbangle had been £ 6-8000 but it smashed through that, ending up at £37,750. Think that must be a record: 3 yrs ago, @Christiesjewels sold one with a pair of #earrings.
What with the #PebbleWatch record last week, seems 1970s Cartier London is having a moment… rather ironic given the burdens of excruciatingly high luxury taxes, less wealth and changing tastes meant that it was incredibly hard to sell luxury items back then. Would love to know what you think of it today – would you wear it?
