Cartier debuted the first Tutti Frutti design in 1901, and it still feels modern
Cartier’s first Tutti Frutti design, a necklace commissioned by Queen Alexandra, the wife of Edward VII, was created in 1901—though the cheeky name for the house’s signature mixed-colored designs, which feature intricately carved gemstones, wouldn’t be coined until the 1970s.
The origins of this Tutti Frutti bracelet, which sold for $886,822 at the Christie’s May 18 Magnificent Jewels sale in Geneva, are unknown. But that doesn’t detract from its exquisite artistry.
“The fact that Cartier could successfully incorporate each stone so that it blends into a cohesive and unified design is a testament to the house’s workmanship,” says Daphne Lingon, senior vice president and senior specialist at Christie’s.
The bracelet’s “overall size is very impressive, yet there is a lightness to it because you see very little of the metal.” Instead, “what hits your eye are the colors of the stones,” she says. “It’s a design that’s only Cartier.”
Cartier Tutti Frutti bracelet in platinum and gold with pavé-set diamonds and carved rubies, sapphires, and emeralds (photo courtesy of Christie’s)
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