Cartier Jadeite – A Symbol of Power, Seduction and Triumph
Jadeite, a stone that’s regarded as the most rare and precious in the world, was once a symbol of supreme status and wealth. In China, the gemstone is referred to as Fei Cui, which means ‘bright and rare feathers’.
As a granddaughter of the founder of Woolworth, Barbara Hutton inherited one of America’s great fortunes and amassed an extraordinary jewellery collection. Her bold taste was reflected in both contemporary jewels and historical pieces. She acquired the impressive Pasha diamond mounted as a ring by Cartier, as well as Marie-Antoinette pearls and Romanov emeralds.
Jadeite
Jadeite is a semi-precious gemstone with a range of colors, but green is the most desirable. It’s also one of the hardest gemstones and has been used since ancient times to make tools, weapons and utensils.
Unlike its cousin, nephrite, which is a cryptocrystalline mineral, jadeite has a granular structure of interlocking pyroxene crystals. It can be translucent, but often it has a more fibrous appearance, especially in the areas of intense green.
It is rare and precious, a natural resource with a long history of use throughout the world. For thousands of years, it was prized in China for its beauty, durability and uniqueness.
In the west, it became more common in the 19th century, when it was fashioned into exquisite jewelry by the master craftsmen of Europe and America. Jewels like the Hutton-Mdivani necklace, a stunning collection of green jade beads crafted into a dazzling necklace by Cartier in 1933 for Barbara Hutton and Prince Alexis Mdivani.
Today, fine jadeite is sought-after by a new generation of collectors who appreciate it for its color and radiance. Its opaqueness and translucency create a soft radiance, similar to emeralds or diamonds.
The most prized jade is Imperial Green, which is a bright, lustrous green, usually with an olive-green tint. This is considered the highest quality, and it can be found only in small quantities.
However, there are other types of jadeite, including white, lavender and yellow. Some of the finest varieties — like Type A — can be extremely fine and transparent.
Yu says that top-quality jadeite is characterized by a dense crystal structure, fine crystals, even color, high translucency and depth of radiance. This kind of jade can evoke a sense of tranquility and harmony.
It’s also a great choice for those who value a more understated aesthetic. A cabochon, or smooth, rounded shape, will highlight the subtle, glowing radiance of jadeite best.
As the demand for jadeite in Asia has risen, auction houses have been adjusting their collections to suit that demand. Sotheby’s chairman of international jewelery, Chin Yeow Quek, explains that in the past few years, Chinese collectors have been seeking pieces with a higher emphasis on quality factors like color and translucency.
Rock Crystal
Rock crystal is a popular gemstone. It lacks the fire and colour of diamond, but it is still used in jewellery due to its beauty and affordability. It is available in a variety of cuts and finishes, which allow it to be worn with any style of clothing or accessories.
Rock-crystal objects have a long history of use in many cultures, particularly in ancient Egypt and the Middle East, as carved items of relic. In medieval times, spheres or crystal balls were believed to have special powers. They were also used for divination and scrying, as well as in some cultures to help people know what was happening in the world.
There are several types of rock crystal, including clear and frosted quartz. Both have a high optical quality and are used in lenses and prisms. In modern time, rock crystal is used in watch movements to generate an oscillating beat, which changes the display of a watch’s hour and minute hands.
One of the most common and distinctive stones of quartz is rutilated quartz, which features hair-like inclusions of golden rutile. It is often paired with a similar stone called tourmalinated quartz, which has intricately crossing needles of black schorl tourmaline trapped within the crystal.
Another type of quartz, called milky quartz, is sometimes layered with microscopic fluids that look like white clouds. This makes it possible to produce very attractive, unique ring settings or pendants for earrings.
In addition to its beauty, rock crystal is known for its healing properties. It is able to cleanse blood vessels, increase energy, reduce fever, and stimulate the immune system. It also improves the functioning of the heart, stabilizes blood pressure and brings oxygen to the brain.
However, it is important to note that rock crystal is a metaphysical healing tool and should never replace the advice of your physician. It is best to use this mineral in conjunction with other metaphysical healers, such as hematite.
During the Middle Ages, artisans used rock crystal to create jewelery and ornamental objects. They were skilled in gem cutting, engraving, enameling and goldsmithing and their creations were awe-inspiring. Objects created from rock crystal were a symbol of wealth and prosperity. They were used in ceremonies and as a sign of status. Some examples have survived to the present day and can be found in art collections from Europe and Asia.
Cartier’s Panthere Collection
Panthere is Cartier’s most famous motif, a timeless symbol of power, seduction, and triumph. It has been an integral part of the company’s iconography for a century, inspiring designs that are still relevant today.
The collection consists of rings, bracelets, and necklaces that all embody the feline aesthetic. Each piece combines precision craftsmanship with flawless stones and precious metals to create articulated sculptural wonders.
With a focus on flexibility, the Panthere collection features pieces with invisible hinges that sculpt the jewellery to fit snugly against the body. This allows the wearer to experience a rigid illusion without compromising the design.
During the 1980s, the Panthere was a must-have piece for any woman who wanted to add some sparkle to her look. It was often seen on celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Pierce Brosnan, but it’s now enjoying a renaissance with a new generation of fans.
When it was first introduced in the 1980s, the Panthere was available in a range of sizes and materials including white gold, yellow gold, and two-tone steel and gold. There were also plenty of diamond-set models to choose from, making it a popular choice for any style lover.
Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s creative director, took the panther to a new level, giving it volume and life. She encouraged her designers to visit Paris zoos to sketch the animal in its natural habitat, and they began to experiment with three-dimensional versions of the motif.
In 1948, Toussaint designed a brooch for the Duchess of Windsor that was the first three-dimensional panther. This was a bold move that made the animal a symbol of liberation and upward mobility, which was an important shift for women at the time.
As the Panthere collection became more iconic and cherished, it was the perfect opportunity for Cartier to re-introduce the design, a move that would ensure that it remains as fresh and relevant as ever. The collection is now crafted with new techniques and reinterpreted in new ways, and it has even been used for the company’s newest “Metiers d’Art” watches.
With the new re-edition, the Panthere is back in its rightful place, becoming an essential element of the Cartier woman’s wardrobe. The Panthere watch, in particular, is a versatile piece that can be worn with any outfit and is a great way to accentuate your jewelry. Its flexible bracelet also makes it an ideal accessory for wearing under a dress, which is why it’s the perfect addition to any fashion lover’s collection.
History
Jade isn’t a new material, but it’s one that has always held a special place in the history of jewelry. Throughout its long and storied history, this mineral has been prized by emperors, empresses and women who ruled China’s most elite social circles. It’s also been used to make burial jade suits that entailed extensive and expensive design, with the most valuable types being made from white nephrite.
Though it’s a rare material, it’s still one that many high-end jewelry brands are increasingly incorporating into their collections. This is because it offers a number of advantages that most precious metals and gems simply can’t, including the possibility of weaving a rich historical narrative into the brand image.
The best examples of this come from Cartier, which has been using it to create opulent and exotic designs since its founding in 1847. From his first platinum timepiece to his jade-encrusted phoenix brooch, Louis Cartier brought back the traditions of his native China into his collections.
There are two primary types of jade: nephrite and jadeite. Nephrite is a natural gemstone, while jadeite is created by heat and pressure. Both are considered “jade,” but nephrite is more rare and often more valuable than its more colorful counterpart.
Traditionally, green jadeite is the most desirable color in jewelry. It’s also known as imperial green, a reference to its bright and vibrant hue.
While most of the world’s nephrite is mined in Myanmar, it’s also found in China, Vietnam and Thailand. The Chinese domestic market consumes about 400 tons a year, while the rest goes to other countries around the world.
This includes a small amount of jadeite rough that is shipped to Canada, where it’s used to make some of the most exquisite carvings in the world. The company that manufactures it, Jade West Group, is headquartered in Vancouver and ships its rough to markets in Asia, Europe and North America.
It is this nephrite that makes its way into Cartier’s collection, in the form of the Hutton-Mdivani jadeite necklace, which was once owned by Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton and given to her daughter, Princess Alexis Mdivani. The necklace has been reset with calibre-cut rubies and now resides in the Cartier Heritage Collection, which aims to preserve the brand’s history of designing and acquiring exceptional antique jewellery pieces.
Cartier Jadeite – A Symbol of Power, Seduction and Triumph