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| Cartier Tutti Frutti Bracelet sold at Sotheby’s New York April 17 for $1,445,000. |
If there is one thing that the history of jewelry has taught us, it is that great design is what makes a piece of jewelry timeless. The creations of the great jewelry houses of the past century have endured not only due to the materials from which they are made, but also because of the innovation used to elevate those materials. Think about the Mystery Setting from Van Cleef & Arpels. It is indeed a feat of design ingenuity. First patented by VCA in 1933, the Mystery Setting remains iconic today. Cartier is renowned for its panthers and tutti frutti, which are as much in demand now as they were when first created by Louis Cartier. And of course there is Tiffany, with a roster of designers that includes Paulding Farnham, Jean Schlumberger, Paloma Picasso, Elsa Peretti and Frank Gehry. These design houses continue today and retain their relevance due to great design. A piece of jewelry may be a fabrication of precious gems and metals, but it takes the vision of a designer to honor and bring those elements to life. The designer’s creativity is what transcends the materials and makes a collectible jewel that is magnificent. It is a premise that holds true not only for the established design houses, but also for the young up-and-coming designers who will create the collectibles and heirlooms of tomorrow.Article from the Rapaport Magazine - May 2013. To subscribe click here.