Designed as a stylized panther head set with a carved onyx nose and pear shaped emerald eyes, the head set with round diamonds, mounted in white gold

METAL: 18k white gold
EMERALDS: Two pear shaped emeralds
DIAMONDS: 22 round diamonds with an approximate weight of 0.50-0.75 carat
SIGNATURE: CARTIER
MARKS: 750 and numbered with French assay and makers mark (obscured)
SIZE/DIMENSIONS: US ring size 7
GROSS WEIGHT: 23.5 grams
21st century

The panther is an iconic symbol of the famed jewelry house, Cartier. First appearing on a lady’s wristwatch in 1914, the panther motif was prevalently in vogue at the time of the Frist World War and used as an inspiration for abstract deigns in onyx and diamonds. However, it was the Parisian style icon, Jeanne Toussaint, who popularized the motif for Cartier. Jeanne adorned her apartment with panther furs and received the nickname “La Panthère” by Louis Cartier. The panther motif was applied to cigarette cases and vanity boxes, but it was not until the 1940’s, at the request of the Duke of Windsor that Jeanne Toussaint created Cartier’s first three-dimensional panther in yellow gold resting atop a 116.74 carat emerald. The following year the Duchess of Windsor commissioned another panther-themed brooch, this one with diamond fur and sapphire spots standing on a 152.35 carat cabochon sapphire. Cartier would later craft panther themed jewels for prominent clients including Daisy Fellowes, Princess Nina Aga Khan and Barbara Hutton. Over time, the panther motif became an integral part of the brand's identity and continues to be reimagined in Cartier’s renowned jewelry designs. This ring is a great example of Cartier's contemporary take on their classic design.