Catalog: Estate Jewelry: Cufflinks and Accessories (503)

A very rare pair of 14K yellow gold, diamond and lapis lazuli cufflinks designed by Erté in the "La Dentelle-State I" pattern. The faces of the cufflinks are shaped as stylized birds, with lapis cabochons for eyes. The exposed gold surfaces are engraved and cast in an intricate pattern of geometric bars and swirls to suggest feathers. Short bands of bead-set single-cut diamonds finish the design.

Known throughout his career as a costume designer and illustrator, Erté began designing jewelry in 1979. At the time of his death in 1990, he had produced just over 300 different designs, most of them made in rather small limited editions. Only 100 examples of the "La Dentelle-State I" cufflinks were made. The backs are signed "Erté", "CFA 14K", and "11/100".

• Origin: America, ca. 1980.
• Dimensions: 2 1/8" x 7/8".
• Weight: 20 Condition: excellent. Size: 2-1/8" x 7/8". Weight: 20.1 grams.
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: lapis, 4.8 carats; diamond, .42 carat.

A handsome pair of 18K yellow and white gold cufflinks set with diamonds and sapphires fromthe Coera Collection by Lunia. The rectangular faces are divided assymetrically into a matte-finished hammered yellow gold section studded with calibre cut sapphires, and a white gold section pave-set with round diamonds. The gemstones are of fine quality (sapphires medium-dark blue and diamonds I/VS1). The faces are connected by chains to baton backs finished in the matte hammered style. The backs of the faces are marked "18K" and are signed Coera.

• Origin: America, ca. 2000
• Condition: excellent
• Dimensions: 1/2" x 3/4"
• Weight: 12.0 grams
• Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .6 carat; sapphire, .5 carat

A handsome dress set comprising a pair of cufflinks and three shirt studs. The 14K yellow gold faces have geometric decoration and feature bead-set round brilliant-cut diamonds. The diamonds are estimated at SI2 clarity and J-K color. Those in the studs are approximately 1/4 carat each, and those in the cufflinks are approximately 1/8 carat each. The studs have a spring mechanism and the cufflinks have toggle backs. Each piece is marked “14K.”

Origin: America, ca. 1980. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: cufflinks, 5/8” x 17/32”; studs, 5/16” x 5/16”. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 1.0 carat. Weight: 16.0 grams.

An extremely heavy pair of double-sided 18K yellow gold cufflinks, the face set with cabochon blue sapphires. Each circular face is fashioned with deeply-incised concentric rings centering the sapphires. The sapphires are of very fine quality, graded as medium-dark vivid blue (B6/7). The connectors are marked for 18K.

Ca. 1970. Condition: excellent. Size: 17/32" diameter. Weight: 18.1 gr. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: .60 ct.

A very good pair of 18K yellow gold cufflinks by Alfred Dunhill. The faces resemble branches of coral. Dunhill produces the vast majority of its cufflinks in sterling silver and the 18K gold versions are very rare. The coral design, in general, is hard to find because it was made for only a short time around 2005. The cufflinks are constructed with the connector set off-center, so the link lies flat against the cuff. The toggle back is Dunhill’s classic small toggle with the company’s insignia. The connectors are fully stamped with English convention hallmarks for 18K and with the maker’s mark for Dunhill.

Origin: England, ca. 2005. Condition: excellent. Size: 1-1/4” x 3/4". Weight: 17.6 grams.

A classic pair of 14K yellow gold barbell cufflinks with knot ends by Tiffany & Co. The cufflinks have substantial weight and are very comfortable to wear. Each connector is marked “Tiffany & Co. 14K.” The cufflinks are presented in their original fitted box.

• Origin: America, ca. 1970.
• Dimensions: larger faces, 9/16” diameter; smaller faces, 7/16” diameter.
• Weight: 21.6 grams.
• Condition: excellent; original box.

A very handsome pair of De Grisogono double-sided cufflinks, the faces made from polished seashells mounted in 18K yellow gold in the style of Seaman Schepps and Trianon. The spiral shells have attractive cinnamon, cream and black markings. The gold mountings are marked "18K" and also have a serial number and a maker's mark.

Established in 1993, de Grisogono quickly took the jewelry world by storm and its pieces are now coveted along those from the most luxurious jewelry makers in the world. The firm designs many pieces in animal themes, and is particularly well known for its range of cufflinks.

Origin: Switzerland, ca. 1995. Condition: excellent; all original. Dimensions: larger faces, 9/16 x 7/16 in. Weight: 5.9 gr.

A fine pair of lapis lazuli cufflinks mounted in 18K yellow gold. The front faces are panel-cut lapis spheres and the backs are round lapis tablets set in twisted rope borders. The lapis is fine quality with just a tiny smattering of glittery pyrite. The faces are joined by chains. Tested and guaranteed 18K.

Ca 1970

Condition: excellent.

Dimensions: front faces, 7/16" diameter

Weight: 8.4 grams

An extremely attractive pair of cufflinks worked in 18K white gold, the faces featuring plaques of black mother of pearl set with diamonds. Black mother of pearl is much less common than the usual light color and displays a beautiful pearly luster with overtones of green and rose that can be clearly seen in the photos. The diamonds have bright color, estimated at F, and VVS clarity. Solid connectors join the faces to hinged toggles. The connectors are marked “750” for 18K gold, and have an unidentified maker’s mark “LG”.

• Origin: probably Continental Europe, ca. 1980
• Dimensions: 5/8” diameter
• Weight: 7.6 grams
• Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 2.0 carats.

A classic pair of Hermes 18K yellow gold cufflinks in the "Etrier" design. Each hinged end is in the form of a stirrup. The connectors are signed "Hermes", have serial numbers and are fully marked with appropriate French 18K gold marks. Etrier cufflinks in gold are no longer available at Hermes. The same design in sterling silver currently retails for $970. A similar design in gold, but with no moveable parts currently retails for $4750.

Origin: France, ca. 2000. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: faces, 9/16" x 9/16". Weight: 15.8 grams.

A handsome pair of cufflinks, worked in 19K yellow gold and featuring oval carved bloodstones enhanced with gold bead centers. The bloodstone has a nice deep green color with minute flecks of red. The gold setting behind the bloodstone is formed as a decorative floral design. The torpedo backs are connected by chains. The backs are stamped with Portuguese hallmarks for 19.2K gold.

Origin: Portugal, ca. 1985. Condition: mint. Size: 9/16” x 7/16”. Weight: 6.0 grams.

A magnificent set of cufflinks the five shirt studs worked in 18K yellow and white gold set with diamonds. The face of each cufflink and stud is formed as a white gold star surrounded by a foliate and beaded yellow gold border. The stars are set with brilliant round-cut diamonds of extremely fine quality, estimated at F color, VSI clarity. The outer gold edges have fine saw-pierced galleries. The backs of the cufflinks have a toggle closure and the studs have double-folding flanges. This set is most unusual in that it includes five shirt studs. The quality of workmanship is at a level of the most exclusive makers. The presence of five studs indicates that the set was probably a custom order, since most formal shirts have only three or four holes for studs. The advantage of the fifth stud, of course, is that if you lose one of the others you have a ready replacement! The yellow gold is intensely yellow—a shade not usually achieved below 20K. Each piece is marked “750” for 18K gold and is signed “DIF”.

Origin: probably European, ca. 1950. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: cufflinks, 5/8” diameter; studs, 7/16” diameter. Weight: 25.0 grams. Approximate Total Diamond Weight: 1.25 carats.

A very handsome 14K yellow dress set comprising cufflinks and four shirt studs. The faces are formed as slightly arched rectangular faces with canted corners and ropetwist borders. Each face is centered by an oval blue star sapphire, and the cufflinks also feature a pair of gypsy-set diamonds on each side of the star sapphire. The faces have a matte Russian finish that contrasts handsomely with the highly polished rope borders. The star sapphires have fine color, with a slight violet tinge to the blue. The stars are sharp and have straight, fully extended rays. The single-cut diamonds are estimated at J color and I1 clarity. The cufflinks are entirely handcrafted and appear to have been custom-made. The findings are marked 14K and the faces test 14K.

Origin: America, ca. 1990. Condition: excellent. Size: cufflinks, 13/16” x 1”; studs, 9/16” x 1/2". Weight: 38.0 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .28 ct; star sapphire, 10.3 carats.

A fine pair of 18K yellow gold cufflinks, fashioned as a comet, each of the heads set with a cabochon pink tourmaline and the tails set with a string of graduated round brilliant-cut diamonds. The diamonds are graded as J color, SI2 clarity. Comet jewelry has been intermittently popular since the early 19th century, and it usually appears on the scene around the same time as a close encounter with a major comet such as Halley's, which appeared in 1986. These cufflinks roughly date to that period. The backs are marked "18K" and have a maker's mark that appears to be that of Goodman & Co. of Indianapolis.

Origin: America, ca. 1986. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: 1-3/8" x 1/2". Weight: 15.0 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: diamond, .40 ct; tourmaline, 4.88 ct.

A very fine pair of double-sided cufflinks by Seaman Schepps. Each of the faces is made from a single blue sapphire that has been tumbled rather than faceted, and then set in a framework of curling gold wirework. The setting is substantial, yet its delicacy allows the rich violet-blue color and internal characteristics of the sapphires to take center stage. Schepps was among the earliest of American jewelry designers to use cabochon and tumbled stones as primary gemstones. Even after 50 years, his colorful designs still seem completely contemporary. Each cufflinks is marked for 18K gold, is signed with Schepps’ hallmark and has the design serial number. These links originally retailed for $5,500.

Origin: America, ca. 2005. Condition: excellent, all original. Size: faces approximately, 5/8” x 1/2”. Weight: 12.6 grams. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: 34.0 carats.

An extraordinarily fine pair of 18K yellow gold double-sided cufflinks, the oval faces pave-set with round blue sapphires and round brilliant diamonds. The gemstones are of extremely high quality. The diamonds are graded as E/F color, VVS1 clarity and the sapphires as vivid, pure blue. The sapphires are set in black gold to further intensify the color. Each cufflink is marked "750" for 18K and is signed "Apogée". We have been unable to find any reference to this mark, but the cufflinks came from a private collection that was mostly by Cartier Buccellati, Bulgari, etc. These cufflinks are clearly of equal quality.

Origin: Continental Europe, ca. 1980. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: larger faces, 9/16" x 13/16"; smaller faces, 7/16" x 9/16". Weight: 21.2 gr. Approximate Total Gemstone Weight: sapphire, 2.74 cts; diamond, 1.0 ct.

A fine pair of heavy 18K yellow gold cufflinks in the “horsebit” (“mors de filet”) style. The visible surfaces are covered in rich dark green translucent enamel overlaid with a yellow gold ropetwist motif. When being worn, only the enameled discs are visible. Each cufflink is marked “France/18K”.

Origin: France, ca. 1980. Condition: excellent, one cufflink has a superficial enamel nick visible only under 10x magnification. Weight: 13.5 grams.

A handsome pair of 14K yellow gold cufflinks in a classic diamond-shaped design completed with black onyx. The toggle backs are stamed "14K".

Origin: America, ca. 1980. Condition: excellent. Dimensions: 1" x 11/16". Weight; 10.0 gr.