Ladybugs are often seen as symbols of good luck, and luck was certainly with one Englishman when, in March 2024, he set off with his metal detector in search of hidden treasures near Winchester, Hampshire. What he found didn’t seem particularly special at first, but he later brought it to one of Noonans' monthly valuation days in Shaftesbury. There, it was quickly identified as a 1930s Cartier brooch in the shape of a ladybug, a true vintage treasure.
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"The brooch was in very poor condition," recalled Laura Smith, jewelry specialist at Noonans, "all the coral had been eaten away as a result of being in the ground for so long, with only two of the original diamond ‘spots’ still intact." Despite this, knowing the strong interest in Cartier pieces from that era, Noonans decided to include the brooch in the catalogue for the 'Jewelry, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu' auction, held at Noonans Mayfair on September 10 – with a conservative estimate of £200-£300.
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This estimate was quickly overshadowed when the hammer finally fell at £4,000 (about $5,000). "The high price achieved at the auction illustrates just how strong the demand is for period Cartier pieces - no matter what the condition," Smith remarked after the auction. The finder could hardly believe his luck, noting, "It was found in the middle of a field, so I wondered if someone might have lost it while hunting. It might explain why they were wearing a Cartier brooch in the middle of the countryside!"
The ladybug brooch wasn't the only vintage Cartier piece to achieve a remarkable price at the auction. A gold Tank wristwatch, made in London in 1941, also attracted considerable interest, surpassing its estimate of £5,000-£7,000 to reach a hammer price of £24,000 (about $30,000).
See also: A Timeless Timepiece: The Story of the Cartier Tank
Joanne Lewis, watch specialist at Noonans, commented: "We are delighted with the price this rare Cartier Tank achieved. Cartier London pieces were produced in small numbers and do not appear on the market very often, as such they are extremely sort-after by Cartier collectors."
