It turned out to be a two-fold loss for the American jewelry house as Cipullo jumped ship and sold the design to Cartier New York, which was operated separately from Cartier Paris and Cartier London and run by Michael Thomas under the Kenton Corporation. Today, thanks to inflation and a seemingly endless demand, a Love Bracelet can run you anywhere from $6,550 for the standard 18-karat gold version, all the way up to $42,100 for one accented in pavé diamonds.īut what you might be surprised to learn is that Cipullo originally offered the design to Tiffany & Co., where he was employed as a designer from 1961 to 1969, but was turned down. And at just $250 in 1969, when it was released, it was a vastly more affordable entrée into the elite maison’s vault. It served not only as an avant-garde alternative to a traditional engagement ring, but also as a piece of Cartier jewelry that could be worn every day. The latter doesn’t seem terribly romantic by modern standards, but it surprisingly gave inspiration to one of the most forward-thinking symbols of love in the 20th century. But it was also an idea that harkened back to the days of 19th century Victorian mourning jewels, in which locks of hair and engraved messages for loved ones were encapsulated in lockets and trinkets (a few of Queen Victoria’s own are coming up for sale at a Sotheby’s auction this March), as well as Medieval chastity belts which protected women’s virtue and which only their husbands could unlock.Īdlo Cipullo photo by Oscar Buitrago courtesy of Renato Cipullo Cartier Ad courtesy of Cariter He wanted to keep the memories of his lost love locked up in a memento that he could keep enshrined on his body. The fascinating book, written by jewelry historian and expert, Vivienne Becker, recounts how Cipullo conceived of the design during a dark night of the soul when he lay awake at 3 A.M. Keanu Reeves Bought Rolexes for Everyone on the ‘John Wick’ 4 Stunt Team Michael Jordan’s Rookie-Year Nikes Are Now the Most Expensive Sneakers Ever Sold at Auction Jaeger-LeCoultre’s New Limited-Edition Watches Feature Mini Versions of ‘Lost’ Van Gogh and Klimt Paintings