Calibré-cut rubies and sapphires, French assay marks for platinum (950‰), French import assay marks for 18K white gold (750‰), signed Cartier Paris, French maker's mark (Henri Picq), numbered, circa 1930

Size/Dimensions: 5.4 x 1.8 cm
Gross weight: 8.92 grams

A refined witness to the golden age of Parisian jewelry, this Cartier brooch perfectly embodies the spirit of innovation and elegance that defined the Maison during the interwar years. Designed in the 1930s, it belongs to a period when artistic audacity and technical excellence met in perfect harmony.

Crafted in platinum and set with calibrated sapphires and rubies, the brooch features a stylized geometric composition characteristic of the Art Deco aesthetic. Its design evokes the dynamic lines of the modern automobile: a powerful symbol of progress and speed at the time, and a favorite theme among creators of the era.

Through its refined craftsmanship and subtle chromatic interplay, this piece recalls creations inspired by the famous 1928 competition organized by André Citroën, in which Parisian jewelers were invited to design a brooch incorporating the letters of his name into the form of a stylized car. While the present brooch does not directly originate from that contest, it shares the same spirit of ingenuity and modernity that animated the great workshops of the rue de la Paix.

Signed Cartier, this brooch stands as a rare testament to the dialogue between the world of high jewelry and the emerging age of mechanical modernity: blending art, luxury, and innovation.