Cartier Collection acquires Barbara Hutton’s Jadeite Necklace

The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace

The Cartier Collection acquired at auction last week the spectacular Hutton-Mdivani Necklace for US$27.44 million, a new world record for a jadeite jewel.

The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace, which features 27 jadeite beads of extremely rare quality and dimensions (from 15.4 to 19.2 mm), was the top lot at Sotheby's Hong Kong's Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Spring Sale on April 7. The origin of these brilliant green jade beads of beautiful translucency—in strikingly perfect shapes carved from the same boulder—remains a mystery, though it is believed they were cut in the 18^th century.

The necklace made its public debut in 1933 at the marriage of Barbara Hutton (1912-1979), granddaughter of the founder of Woolworth's, and Prince Alexis Mdivani, as a wedding gift from the father of the young bride, Franklyn Laws Hutton. The clasp of the necklace was then adorned with a navette-cut diamond, crafted by Cartier.

The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace

Barbara Hutton was passionate about jade and, on the advice of leading experts in the stone, commissioned from Cartier in 1934 the current clasp, which is set with yellow gold, calibré-cut rubies and baguette-cut diamonds that enhance the deep green hue of the gems.

On the same date, she also commissioned from Cartier a jade, ruby and diamond ring to match the necklace, which today forms part of the Cartier Collection.

Images: Sotheby's