Round and old-cut rubies, 18k yellow gold (French marks), circa 1945, detachable ruby 'boule' motifs may be worn as clips, signed Van Cleef & Arpels, maker's marks (Ladislas Bergolz), necklace and motifs numbered

Size/Dimensions: necklace 38.5 cm long, as clips 1.5 cm high
Gross weight: 110.4 grams

Christie's, Geneva, 20 November 2009, lot 1110

Given their grouping, it is quite possible that the 'boule' motifs clips were designed to be worn either as a group of lady's brooches or as boutons de plastron - a set of gentleman's dress studs. The ingenious addition, in 1951, of a special necklace to attach these buttons was a unique 'Commande Speciale'. There does not appear to be a record of anything similar in the archives. VC&A are renowned for their 'metamorphic' versatile jewels and this set excels as a very sophisticated and unusual, if not unique, example of brooch clips, dress clips and necklace all combined.

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