Catalog: Estate Jewelry (1615)

A very heavy pair of 18K yellow gold stirrup (étrier) cufflinks retailed by famed New York jeweler Olga Tritt. Stirrup (étrier) cufflinks were popularized by Cartier in the 1940s and have appeared in many variations since. This pair is unusual because of the gold mesh sides and the unusual decorative shape of the crossbar. The cufflinks are marked with indistinct French master goldsmith’s marks. We have had an identical pair once before, in their original fitted Olga Tritt box. As a French émigré, Tritt manufactured her own line of jewelry and retailed high-quality French jewelry at her Park Avenue boutique.

Origin: France, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, all original. Dimensions: 21 x 24 mm (13/16 x 31/32 in). Weight: 17.9 gr.

This delicate 14K yellow gold ring is set with a beautiful fire opal surrounded at compass points by old European cut diamonds. Fire opal is an uncommon stone, and it is very rare to find with play-of-color, the flash effect seen in traditional opals. This stone flashes with red, green and blue. The strong orange body color and fine clarity makes this a beautiful stone. The diamonds are quite good quality and are particularly bright against the orange fire opal. The shank is finished with milligrained edges on both sides. It is engraved “My love, forever 6-16-56”. It is stamped 14K and has an unknown maker’s mark.

Origin: America, 1956. Condition: excellent. Finger Size: 6. Crown Size: 7/16” x 7/16”. Weight: 2.1 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: fire opal, .71 ct; diamond, .12 ct.

An unusual 18K yellow gold pendant in the Sputnik design by H Stern. Most examples of Sputnik jewelry are set with multi-colored gemstones, but occasionally a piece turns up with a single color—in the case amethyst. The design was created in the 1950s to highlight the colored gemstones available from the Stern mines in Brazil. It later earned the nickname “Sputnik” for its resemblance to the spike Soviet satellite launched in 1957. Tested and guaranteed 18K.

Origin: Brazil, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 3/4” diameter. Weight: 2.4 gr. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 2.51 cts.

A fine Italian Etruscan style 18K gold fob charm set with amethysts and pearls. The charm is shaped as a crown. The gold surfaces are enhanced with twisted wire and rosette motifs. The oval amethysts have nice medium color intensity and the pearls have good luster. The charm bears the maker’s mark of Figli di Vittoria Franconeri di Lidia (Florence).

• Origin: Italy, ca. 1955
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 1” x 13/16” x 1-1/4” (excluding jump ring)
• Approximate Total Amethyst Weight: 7.99 carats
• Weight: 12.8 grams

A vintage 18K gold Sputnik ring of dramatically large proportions by H Stern. The dome is bezel-set with nineteen fine-quality round citrines, amethysts, pink and green tourmalines, peridots, aquamarines and garnets. The design was created in the 1950s to highlight the range of colored gemstones available from Stern's Brazilian mines. It later came to be called "Sputnik" for its resemblance to the spike Soviet satellite launched in 1957. Each piece has a unique appearance depending on the specific colors of the stones and their arrangement. This is, by far, the largest Sputnik ring we've ever encountered, rising a full 3/4" above the finger. The shank is stamped with Stern's older hallmark and is marked for 18K.

Origin: Brazil, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent. Finger Size: 8-3/4 (can easily be sized up or down). Dimensions: dome, 1-1/4" diameter. Weight: 10.2 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 12.92 carats.

A classic pair of 18K yellow gold stirrups in the “stirrup” style popularized by Cartier. The surfaces are decorated with engraved parallel lines. This type of decoration, combined with the unusually angular shape, gives this pair of cufflinks a very modernist feel. The cufflinks are fully stamped with French 18K gold hallmarks.

Origin: France, ca. 1970. Condition: excellent. Size: 3/4" deep; 1/4" wide. Weight: 8.3 gr.

A nice pair of 14K white gold modernist cufflinks, the Florentined surfaces star-set with round blue sapphires. The sapphires are accented with bright-cut engraving to add a little more sparkle to the matte finish of the gold. Marked 14K.

Origin: America, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 11/16” x 1-7/16”. Weight: 13.7 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .22 carat.

A fine pair of vintage 18K yellow gold cufflinks in the "stirrup" style popularized by Cartier in the late 1940s. The cufflinks are constructed from a solid bar, finished at each end with interlocking arches. By pulling on the ends, the arches can be unfolded for each in putting the cufflinks through the cuff holes. Then, a simple flip up causes the arches to hold the fabric tightly together. Cufflinks of the sort are seen in a number of variations, but this is a particularly handsome pair. The bars are marked with French 18K gold hallmarks, and also with an unidentified maker's mark "GP".

Origin: France, ca. 1955. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: faces, 3/4" x 9/16". Weight: 11.5 grams.

A nice pair of vintage 14K yellow gold rectangular cufflinks, each face engraved in a starburst pattern emanating from a bezel-set round diamond. The diamonds are I/J color, VS2 clarity. The backs are marked 14K.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Size: 11/16” x 1/2”. Weight: 7.9 grams. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: .06 ct.

A handsome pair of vintage 14K yellow gold double-sided cufflinks by Larter. The square faces have slightly rounded edges and feature almandite garnet cabochons. The garnets have strong red coloring without too much of the brown overtones that can make garnets dark. The connectors are marked with Larter’s hallmark and “14K”.

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Size: 9/16” x 9/16”. Weight: 8.5 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 4.04 cts.

A lovely 18K yellow gold, diamond and ruby love pendant (“medaille d’amour”) with a rebus spelling out Plus qu’hier, moins que demain,” (“More than yesterday, less than tomorrow.”) a line from the love poem written by Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand (author of “Cyrano”) in 1889. The word “plus” is symbolized by a plus sign set with a rose cut diamond and the word “moins” by a minus sign set with rectangular cut synthetic rubies. In 1907, the Lyonnais jewelry Alphonse Augis created a love token based on the poem. This example maintains the “crêpe de chine” textured background, but pairs it with the simple beveled border used in the 1950s. The use of a rose cut diamond and the A-Augis signature suggest the earlier part of that period. The medium size is perfect for either a neck chain or a charm bracelet. The pendant is fully stamped with French 18K gold marks and with Augis’ maker’s mark.

• Origin: France, 1950.
• Condition: excellent; sharp detail.
• Dimensions: 15/16” diameter (excluding bail and jump ring); the size of a quarter.
• Weight: 5.7 grams.
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .05 carat; ruby, .08 carat.

A large Etruscan style 18K gold fob/charm/pendant set with large dark blue topaz. We’ve never seen one of these charms set with deep blue gemstones before. The gold surfaces are covered in ornate bead and twisted wire decoration. The pendant opens in the middle to reveal a secret compartment. The bail is stamped for 18K gold and also has French import marks.

• Origin: Italy, ca. 1955
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 1-1/8” diameter, 1-1/2” height (excluding jump ring)
• Approximate Total Topaz Weight: 32.8 carats
• Weight: 24.3 grams

A classic pair of mmid-Century modernist cufflinks by Lucien Piccard, featuring a circlet of round brilliant-cut garnets around a central plaque of gold enhanced with a Florentine finish. Piccard more often used synthetic sapphires or synthetic rubies in his cufflink designs. The garnets have a subtle, deep red coloring that contrasts beautifully with the richly-textured gold without being too flashy. Signed "Lucien Piccard" and marked "14K."

• Origin: America, ca. 1950.
• Condition: excellent; all original.
• Dimensions: faces, 3/4" diameter.
• Weight: 11.4 grams.
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 1.25 carats.

Handsome pair of vintage 14K yellow gold cufflinks, the elongated diamond-shaped faces set with cabocochon-cut blue sapphires. The stones have excellent, bright color. The faces are lightly textured in a starburst pattern emanating from the sapphires toward the faceted edges. The fronts are attached with solid connectors to the toggle backs. The connectors are marked "585" for 14K.

Origin: Continental Europe, ca. 1950.

Condition: excellent, all original.

Size: 5/8" x 7/8".

Weight: 5.0 grams.

Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .62 carat.

An elegant gilt sterling silver oval brooch by Kirk in the "Repousse" pattern. Kirk made a range of jewelry in this pattern but only a few were then gilt. With the addition of a bail to the back, this pin would make a very striking vertical pendant. The back is stamped with Kirk's hallmark from the 1932-61 period.

Origin: America, ca 1950. Condition: excellent, no wear to gilding. Dimensions: 2-7/16" x 15/16". Weight: 18.5 grams.

A nice pair of mid-century 14K yellow gold cufflinks set with blue sapphire cabochons. The rectangular faces are engraved in a sunburst pattern, with one end rolled over. A round cabochon sapphire is set in to each end of the opening created by the rolled edge. The stones have fine slightly violet-blue color and good clarity. The backs have toggle closures. The cufflinks are not signed, but are almost certainly by either Larter or Krementz. Marked "14K".

Origin: America, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent. Size: 7/8" x 5/8". Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .76 ct. Weight: 10.2 gr.

A large 18K yellow gold Sputnik ring by H Stern. The dome is bezel-set with round amethysts, citrines, aquamarines, peridots, green tourmalines, pink tourmalines and garnets. The Sputnik design was created in the 1950’s to highlight the range of colored gemstones available from Stern’s Brazilian mines. It later came to be called “Sputnik” for its resemblance to the spiky Soviet satellite launched in 1957. Each piece has a unique appearance depending on the specific colors of the stones and their arrangement. The interior of the shank is stamped “750” for 18K gold, and bears Stern’s older hallmark.

• Origin: Brazil, ca 1955.
• Dimensions: 15/16” diameter.
• Finger Size: 10 1/4.
• Weight: 5.9 grams.
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 5.05 carats.
• Condition: excellent; all original; no dings.

A pretty 14K yellow gold brooch designed as a cluster of leaves, each accented with a collet-set round ruby. The leaf surfaces have stippled and Florentine finishes for nice contrast. The back is marked “14K” and also has an illegible maker’s mark.

• Origin: America, ca. 1960
• Condition: excellent, all original
• Dimensions: 1-7/8” x –1-1/8”
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .15 carat
• Weight: 6.0 grams