With this summer’s blockbuster Cartier exhibition at the V&A wowing crowds in London, there’s a chance for Derby fashionistas and collectors to get in on the act.
Four lots by the iconic French maker are set to go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers’ luxury sale this week <July 30>.
And an iconic Chanel double flap bag, one of the most famous bags in the world, is expected to sell for £1,500-£2,500.
The sale highlight is a diamond-set 18ct white gold ‘Love’ bracelet, which is expected to sell for £4,000-£6,000 at the auctioneer’s Etwall saleroom on Wednesday.
The bracelet, reputedly inspired by a medieval chastity belt, remains one of the most iconic pieces of jewellery ever made. Designed in 1969, each bracelet comes with a special screwdriver (included in the lot) to secure it to the wearer’s wrist, suggesting their love is locked in.
To mark its launch, Cartier gave pairs of the Love bracelets to famous couples including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
Also in the sale, and just as iconic, is a Cartier Tank Française watch, which is expected to sell for £1,500-£1,800.
Designed by Louis Cartier in 1917, the watch’s clean lines are thought to have been inspired by the silhouettes of WWI American tanks.
Princess Diana famously wore a Tank Française, and Meghan Markle has also been seen wearing the same watch, including one that belonged to Princess Diana.
Another Cartier watch in the sale, with a guide price of £1,000-£1,200 is Pasha de Cartier chronograph. It was designed by Gérald Genta and modelled on the original waterproof watch commissioned by the Pasha of Marrakesh in 1934.
The fourth Cartier lot is a vintage suede evening bag, marked Cartier Paris, which comes with its original dust bag and the maker’s red box. It is expected to make £150- £250.
The 99-lot sale also features 14 pieces by the legendary French maker Louis Vuitton, ranging from scarves (expected to sell for £50-£80) to an ultra-smart Pégase trolley case, featuring the company’s famous monogram canvas. The bag is expected to make £1,000-£1,500.
Auctioneer Charles Hanson said: “Today luxury is the key aspect of our industry. From Cartier to Louis Vuitton, the secondary market for these iconic names has never been stronger. The pieces in this week’s sale have a pedigree and a provenance which is sought after by both collectors and fashionistas.”
Auction Details
Auction: The Derbyshire Summer Luxury & Collectors Sale
Auction date: 30th July 2025 | 10am
Location: Hansons Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
