life in the facet lane “Here Kitty Kitty” by Diana Jarrett GG RMV

Your Jewelry may hint at your Personality—but it will never tell the whole story.

Felines, both wild and domestic, have been a source of endless fascination to mankind for centuries. Potentates from antiquity were legendary for parading around their kingdoms with leashed up savage felines —panthers, tigers, and cheetahs, just to name a few.

Modern humanity also loves to collect felines of the domestic variety—while taking great pride in attributing human-like characteristics to their enigmatic behavior.

So it’s no wonder that gemstone lovers also love to collect jewelry featuring the feline world. Whether it’s with fashion jewelry or serious haute bijoux, there are cat-like jewels lurking everywhere just waiting for a collector to pounce on them and make them their own.

This is no new trend, either. The late Duchess of Windsor was a storied jewelry collector with exquisite taste when it came to the sparkly stuff. She was celebrated for her collection of animal jewels, most notably the wild felines created by Master Jeweler Cartier. Turns out, the House of Cartier’s muse is none other than a sleek black panther, and they created many types of adornments around this motif. From cuffs to ear clips to prominent brooches, the panther holds pride of place with this lauded jewelry house. While you may grab a gorgeous kitty jewel today from various sources, the international auction houses may be your best shot at starting your own kitty collection. If you are fascinated by these independent creatures—or perhaps you have an independent streak yourself, collecting feline jewelry may be just the ticket.

Panthere de Cartier. Credit: Cartier

Contact Diana Jarrett Diana@DianaJarrett.com  www.DianaJarrett.com