Featured Questions about an old brooch

Pretty sure it's called a duette brooch. I think the two pieces that it breaks into, are dress clips (Please correct me if I'm wrong). Had it for quite a few years, after my grandmother owned it for sometime. It has no marks other than 14k on each piece plus a serial number (that you can only see with a jewelers loupe) on each piece
Any guess to it's age or style? Also pretty sure those are natural faceted sapphires (9 on each piece 2-2.5 mm each). Do stones such as these add any real value to the piece or is it mainly just the gold?
Asking because I'm thinking of parting with it. My wife doesn't care for it very much and never wears it. Any comments on where to sell? Truly appreciate all comments.

 

Don't sell before you know what it is and where it came from, & how old.
Yes..the stones add value as a jewelry item.
It's got a classy look , so gotta be worth more than melt weight value !!

Please go back and edit...hitting FULL IMAGE !!

 

It's quite attractive. You will want to fully research before disposing of.

Debora

 

Marie deals in vintage jewelry and she'd love to see that. Please wait for her to at least look and, I'd also suggest going to a jeweler in your city for a hands-on appraisal. Much to nice to give away. Although, if you want, I'll send you the price of postage. .

 

1940s.

Debora

 

Unique.....and nice!!!!!

 

Something similar. Same period.

Debora

 

This piece reminds me of a story about a friend of mine who was into vintage clothing in a big way. One day he goes to a thrift store and sees a pile of old shoes in their original boxes,and recognizing high end names on them he buys the lot.Clipped onto a pair of satin evening shoes from the 40s was a pair of diamond dress clips wich he later sold for a tidy sum! I hadnt thought about that (or him) in 30 years.
Ps... I wanted to add that woman had like size 4 feet ! he couldnt sell those shoes for anything!
Pss... I cant BELIEVE I remembered the name of the shoes ! I tell ya,Im on fire today ! LOL !https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-jun-joseph-larose-jacksonvilles-legendary-shoe-guru

 

I'll never look at old shoes the same way !

 

Very beautiful dc, love the design. Yes, the stones are probably sapphires.
Dress clips or fur clips?
14k means probably US made, and I agree with Debora, 1940s. If they had been French they could have been 30s.

You can put me on the giveaway list too, I don't mind paying the postage, not at all.

 

Duette as a trade name was registered by Cartier. Those are usually marked accordingly. This is a dress clip set. Many other makers, especially costume companies, went on to copy the principle, and they were made right up till the 1960s, I have many. What's the number on it?

Over here, you'd be looking at close to four figures on that if sapphires. Pin the serial to Cartier and all bets are off.

 

I agree, the style is Cartier. But Cartier wouldn't mark with 14k.
As you say, they would have the Cartier mark. They would also have 585 (for 14k gold), and French marks, the latter probably on the pins.

 

Thank you for the offers to take it off my hands for the price of postage. I'll keep you in mind.
I doubt it is Cartier. I've seen Cartier (at least some later pieces) and you know who made them, it's obvious. Plus, I'm SURE my wife would like it more if it was, and I probably wouldn't even be inquiring about it. Thanks again.

 

SWEET!

They are fur clips which always have the long prongs. Dress clips have a flat clip back, like this:


I would not call it a duette, duette is a name trademarked by Coro for the same thing holding costume dress or fur clips. You would not want to have this confused with costume!

 

Marie, Duette was first trade marked by Cartier. I know Coro went on to do the same in the US, but that was as Coro Duette. I'd missed the pin length: yes, fur clip.

 

Fur clips for sure, Moderne style, aka late Deco. If the OP is throwing, I'll go grab a catcher's mitt!

http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm
Here's the link for the US Patent office number search. This is an oldie, so it ought to come up as Image only, which is fine for you. It'll tell you who owned the patent which may well point to the manufacturer. I use it all the time.

 

Thanks bear!

Here is a nice article about this style of pin:
https://www.trufauxjewels.com/blog/introducing-duette-brooch/

 

Oh, nice article, thank you.

 

Definitely a fur lip duet. Looks deco to me. I would have appraised, auction houses depending on what they auction, have experts on site that can evaluate the item for you at no cost. If you can identify the maker from the patent number you may be able to zero down on its worth.

Beautiful, wish I had it

Lucy