The bracelet is the most sought-after Cartier piece on the second-hand market, and also the one where the difference between a sound piece and a tired one shows most quickly. On a Love, everything comes down to the condition of the screws and their slots : flattened slots, a loose hinge, a worn hallmark tell a story that the photograph does not reveal. On a Juste un Clou, it is the point and the curve of the head that reveal excessive polishing.
Each Cartier bracelet offered by Francine Joaillerie is authenticated before being offered for sale : checking fineness and maker's hallmarks, reading the serial number and its consistency with the stated period, loupe examination of the setting, weighing, checking the clasp and safety mechanism. The piece is sold with its certificate of authenticity.
| Model | Character | Check points |
|---|---|---|
| Love | Screw bangle, worn closed, an emblem since 1969 | Screw slots, hinge play, engraved size |
| Juste un Clou | Wrapped nail, graphic and unisex | Point, curve of the head, thickness after polishing |
| Trinity | Three interlaced golds, 1924 | Roundness of the rings, contrast between the three shades |
| Panthère | Figurative jewellery, lacquer and stones | Lacquer chips, eye stones, articulation |
| Écrou, Clash, Agrafe | More recent or collectible creations | Movement of the elements, clasp |
On a Love, the size is engraved and is not adjustable : a bracelet that is too large rotates and wears at the clasp, too small and it will not close. Sizes 16 to 19 are the most sought-after, which also makes them the rarest on the second-hand market. White gold requires rhodium plating maintenance, rose gold is more forgiving of light surface scratches, yellow gold remains the most stable over time.
The setting changes the price scale far more than age : a 4 diamond model, a half pavé or a full pavé are not assessed on the same basis. On stone-set pieces, we check the security of each bead and the consistency of the stones' colour, two points where approximate reassembly is immediately visible.
The emblematic gold models, with Love and Juste un Clou foremost among them, are traded on a deep and steady market. Value depends on condition, size, the presence of the original accessories and the material, long before the year of manufacture.
When they accompany the piece, yes, and this is stated on the listing. Their absence does not prevent the sale but is taken into account in the valuation. We always provide the certificate of authenticity.
Yes, by direct purchase or on consignment. Send us photographs of the bracelet, its hallmarks and its serial number for an initial estimate within 24 hours.
Signed pieces sell quickly and not all of them are placed online. If you are looking for a particular model, size or material, let us know : we will contact you as soon as a matching piece arrives in the boutique. Describe your search to us or call the boutique on 06 07 10 31 64.
See also : all our Cartier pieces and all our pre-owned bracelets.
Francine Joaillerie is an independent house specialising in second-hand pieces and is not affiliated with any of the houses mentioned.
