CARTIER
A rutile quartz, diamond and platinum seal, circa 1913
$ 14,000.00
Further images
Designed as a stylised column of rutile quartz, embellished with two contouring bands of rose-cut diamonds, the platinum base engraved with two merging coat of arms, heralding the marriage between...
Designed as a stylised column of rutile quartz, embellished with two contouring bands of rose-cut diamonds, the platinum base engraved with two merging coat of arms, heralding the marriage between Archduchess Mechthildis of Austria (1891 - 1966) and Prince Olgierd Czartoryski in 1913, signed Cartier Paris, French assay marks for gold (although it is in platinum, as explains below).
Note: Rutile quartz is such a marvel, and there's something rather lovely about it being a stone that is valued for its inclusions rather than in spite of them...be they inclusions of black, gold or reddish rutile 'needles' within the quartz. Interestingly, the metalwork is an early example of platinum use, although Cartier would become famous for its exemplary work in the metal, and it is stamped with the eagle head and not the dog's head as you would expect as this was just before the French platinum mark was introduced.
Note: Rutile quartz is such a marvel, and there's something rather lovely about it being a stone that is valued for its inclusions rather than in spite of them...be they inclusions of black, gold or reddish rutile 'needles' within the quartz. Interestingly, the metalwork is an early example of platinum use, although Cartier would become famous for its exemplary work in the metal, and it is stamped with the eagle head and not the dog's head as you would expect as this was just before the French platinum mark was introduced.
