The Cartier panther is a well-known motif. You may be picturing the famous and magnificent articulated panther bracelet once owned by the Duchess of Windsor; one of the most famous Cartier panther pieces.
What wins me over about the Cartier panther are the details and the delicacy. Animal jewelery can be cheesey, but the Cartier panther usually isn't. The panther itself is sometimes rendered in precious gems, or sometimes in gold or silver with jeweled eyes and an onyx nose. The delicate planes of the face and the sleek lines of the body make it worth looking at for its own sake, not just because it's rendered as some fabulous piece of jewelery.
These rings were sold as part of the Christie's Hong Kong Jewels auction on 29 November 2010. All information about and pictures of these pieces are thanks to Christie's.
This ring is whimsical and flashy, but I think it's fantastic. It's 18k gold set with diamonds and sapphires to create the panther's spots. Please note the wealth of detail: the panther's carefully shaped ears, the onyx nose, the emerald eyes. The Christie's description also says that the panther's head rotates, which is hard to imagine, but I'd love a chance to play with it.
These two rings are versions of the same design. The first ring is shaped like a gold panther that curls around the finger, holding a cabochon chalcedony. The panther has an onyx nose and emerald eyes. The second ring is the same shape, except the panther holds a cabochon sapphire.
There were two more Cartier panther rings in this auction, but I'm not a fan. I like the panthers, but the rings are too heavy and industrial for me.
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Labels: animal-shaped jewelry, bracelets, Cartier, Contemporary/Undated, diamonds, emeralds, rings, sapphires
