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A diamond bracelet, 1930s
Designed as a series of ten dome-shaped links pavé-set with circular-cut stones, with square-shaped diamond accents, set to an angle of the summit with a circular-cut diamond weighing approximately 1.00...
Designed as a series of ten dome-shaped links pavé-set with circular-cut stones, with square-shaped diamond accents, set to an angle of the summit with a circular-cut diamond weighing approximately 1.00 carat within a hexagonal-shaped opening, creating the illusion of a hexagonal-cut stone, each link within a border of calibré-cut baguette diamonds, circa 1930, maker's mark for Henri Lavabre, length 17.5cm, width 2.7cm. Approximately 90 carats total diamond weight
Note: The Lavabre workshop is a well known name due in part to its close relationship with Cartier. It was responsible for the delicate enamelled watches, pendants and boxes made by Cartier in the early 20th Century, working exclusively for the house from 1906 - 1921, and then later the assembly of and embellishments to the carved Chimera bangles that were to become another icon for the house.
This bracelet is beautifully and richly executed. The domes are pavé-set, which is usually a technique to create an impressive sheet of brilliance using small individual stones set closely together like paving stones, but here the stones in the pavé seem indulgently large, with the largest in each dome being 0.75cts. Its design is full of thought and intrigue, particularly the little detail of the sporadic raised carré-cut accents within the pavé-set domes and the circular-cut diamonds set atop of each dome are each off-centre and play with the eye by being within octagonal-shaped settings which disguise the stone’s shape. This bracelet doesn’t rely solely on its ability to dazzle with its stone content (there are approximately 90 carats of diamonds in total), its design rewards your curiosity and reveals a depth of thought in its conception that makes it all the more beautiful.
Coincidentally, Helena Rubinstein owned a bracelet of the same design with the domes set with circular-cut rubies instead of diamonds.
Note: The Lavabre workshop is a well known name due in part to its close relationship with Cartier. It was responsible for the delicate enamelled watches, pendants and boxes made by Cartier in the early 20th Century, working exclusively for the house from 1906 - 1921, and then later the assembly of and embellishments to the carved Chimera bangles that were to become another icon for the house.
This bracelet is beautifully and richly executed. The domes are pavé-set, which is usually a technique to create an impressive sheet of brilliance using small individual stones set closely together like paving stones, but here the stones in the pavé seem indulgently large, with the largest in each dome being 0.75cts. Its design is full of thought and intrigue, particularly the little detail of the sporadic raised carré-cut accents within the pavé-set domes and the circular-cut diamonds set atop of each dome are each off-centre and play with the eye by being within octagonal-shaped settings which disguise the stone’s shape. This bracelet doesn’t rely solely on its ability to dazzle with its stone content (there are approximately 90 carats of diamonds in total), its design rewards your curiosity and reveals a depth of thought in its conception that makes it all the more beautiful.
Coincidentally, Helena Rubinstein owned a bracelet of the same design with the domes set with circular-cut rubies instead of diamonds.