Aquamarine Brooch Clip
finely crafted platinum brooch clip, centering one antique rectangular cushion-faceted blue sapphire weighing approximately 4.10 carats, surrounded by 13 marquise, pear, semi-navette and oval aquamarines, estimated combined at 7.90 carats, and bordered by 137 straight baguette, square step-cut, and round full-cut diamonds, estimated combined diamond weight 4.90 carats, with 14 round faceted and square step-cut blue sapphire accents, estimated combined 1.75 carats, marked "CARTIER" verso with hand-applied numbers, (not readable), 2 x 1-3/8 in., 29 grams, with original Cartier fitted box and appraisal. Condition: very good condition, minor wear to the box. Notes: This beautiful Cartier brooch was presented to Mrs. John King Lucey in December of 1941 by the Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company in appreciation of her sponsorship for the Cargo Ship M.S. Sea Serpent. Mrs. Lucey was the daughter of James Aloysius O’Leary, Congressman representing Staten Island from 1935 until his death in 1944. The Sea Serpent was one of many ships built by the Chester, Pennsylvania Company in their participation in the U.S. Government’s Emergency Ship Building Program during WWII. Gifts of jewelry and other expensive tokens to the women who sponsored and christened ships during the early War years was a common practice from the major shipbuilding companies. The Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company was one of the major shipbuilders at the time and was known to have presented many gifts to the estimated 6000 women sponsors including First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, the wives and daughters of diplomats and other government officials and the women welders who worked on the ships. The presentation of gifts to ship sponsors ended with the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Please Note: Brunk Auctions provides condition reports as a courtesy to our clients and assumes no liability for any error or omission. Descriptions are our opinions and should in no way be construed as a guarantee of any kind as to age, condition, materials or any other feature of items being sold. No statement written or oral made by the auctioneer shall be deemed a warranty or assumption of liability by Brunk Auctions or by any seller represented by Brunk Auctions. We are happy to provide additional photographs to aid in your decision. We do not give refunds. Brunk Auctions makes no warranty or guarantee whatsoever regarding the jewelry, its colored stones, diamonds, other gem materials, or metals, or as to their status as natural, treated, “earth mined”, manmade or other. Appraisals, descriptions, photographs, are offered as a service and are not intended to be a complete analysis of the qualities and conditions of the jewelry. All identifiations, information, weights, quality, cut, value and other estimates, are opinions, limited by examination and grading the mountings, the condition and cleanliness of the items. All gems, colored stones, diamonds, “cultured or natural pearls, fresh water, south sea, Tahitian pearls”, and other materials used in jewelry, may be enhanced by a variety of treatments. Brunk Auctions makes no warranties or guaranties that any clock or watch is in working order. First time buyers will be required to pay by wire transfer or cashiers check.. Provenance: Estate of Mrs. John King Lucey, Staten Island, New York

very good condition, minor wear to the box; light wear, minor scratches, chips on blue sapphire surfaces and edges, minor surface bruises on a few diamonds; engraved marks under "Cartier" mark