CollectionsSep 06, 2024
Piece of the Week: Lizzie Mandler’s ‘Liquid Gold’ HoopsAuctionsSep 13, 2024
Piece of the Week: Cartier’s ‘Black Alley Cat’ Brooch
This carved jasper and yellow-diamond-eyed cat brooch from 1962 is the perfect accessory for Friday the 13th.
Spooky jewelry season is approaching with Halloween only a month away.
With today being Friday the 13th, we’re getting a head start sharing witchy pieces by celebrating this black cat brooch.
While superstitions say black cats are unlucky, many people disagree, adoring the midnight-colored fur of their felines.
Cartier’s “Black Alley Cat” brooch, with fur made of carved jasper and glowing marquise-shaped yellow diamond eyes, went up for action as lot 3 in the offering of more than 190 items in Christie’s “Jewels Online” auction this Wednesday.
As the hammer came down, it sold for $50,400, more than double its pre-sale estimate of $15,000 to $20,200.
The brooch features 18-karat yellow gold hardware on the back that is engraved with “Black Alley Cat.”
The signed piece, circa 1962, comes from the collection of Nina Dyer, a former model who had the brooch made on special order from Cartier Paris, according to Christie’s.
Dyer was known as one of the paramount jewelry collectors of the 20th century, with one of her three-strand black pearl necklaces selling at a 1969 auction for CHF $12.7 million (approximately $14.9 million), after her death in 1965.
She was also known for her love of cats.
Her first husband, Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, gifted her with two black panthers which used to accompany her on her world travels, while her second husband, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, gifted her with several Cartier “Great Cat” cuffs, bangles, rings, jabot pins, and brooches.
While the lucky buyer may not be able to take two panthers with them on their world travels, they can still honor Dyer’s love for felines by wearing the Black Alley Cat brooch.
Related stories will be right here …
With today being Friday the 13th, we’re getting a head start sharing witchy pieces by celebrating this black cat brooch.
While superstitions say black cats are unlucky, many people disagree, adoring the midnight-colored fur of their felines.
Cartier’s “Black Alley Cat” brooch, with fur made of carved jasper and glowing marquise-shaped yellow diamond eyes, went up for action as lot 3 in the offering of more than 190 items in Christie’s “Jewels Online” auction this Wednesday.
As the hammer came down, it sold for $50,400, more than double its pre-sale estimate of $15,000 to $20,200.
The brooch features 18-karat yellow gold hardware on the back that is engraved with “Black Alley Cat.”
The signed piece, circa 1962, comes from the collection of Nina Dyer, a former model who had the brooch made on special order from Cartier Paris, according to Christie’s.
Dyer was known as one of the paramount jewelry collectors of the 20th century, with one of her three-strand black pearl necklaces selling at a 1969 auction for CHF $12.7 million (approximately $14.9 million), after her death in 1965.
She was also known for her love of cats.
Her first husband, Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, gifted her with two black panthers which used to accompany her on her world travels, while her second husband, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, gifted her with several Cartier “Great Cat” cuffs, bangles, rings, jabot pins, and brooches.
While the lucky buyer may not be able to take two panthers with them on their world travels, they can still honor Dyer’s love for felines by wearing the Black Alley Cat brooch.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Auctions
The Latest
SurveysOct 09, 2026
These Will Be the 10 Busiest Days for In-Store Shopping This Holiday SeasonStores should expect to see the most customers on Nov. 27, and Christmas week is expected to be hectic too, as Dec. 25 falls on a Friday.
CollectionsOct 09, 2026
Elisa Solomon Collabs With Serendipity 3 on ‘Frozen Hot Chocolate’ CharmThe charm, our Piece of the Week, features brown diamond frozen hot chocolate topped with white diamond whipped cream and a ruby straw.
WatchesOct 09, 2026
Movado to Sell Majority Stake in Ebel for $66.5MThe watch company agreed to sell a 95 percent interest to a group comprised of F.P. Journe, Chanel, and Swiss watch exec Pierre Jacques.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
Weekly QuizOct 08, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
Events & AwardsOct 08, 2026
Pattons Fine Jewelry Sweeps Local Design ContestAra Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
4 Standout Pieces in Audemars Piguet’s First High Jewelry Collection “Royal Oak” pays homage to the brand’s most popular watch model using 18-karat gold as well as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
MajorsOct 07, 2026
Empire Safe & Vault Promotes Juan Morales to CEOAs part of the transition, Joseph Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
SourcingOct 07, 2026
AGTA Extends Deadline for 2026 Spectrum Awards EntriesParticipants now have until Oct. 14 to complete their submissions.
CrimeOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
ColumnistsOct 06, 2026
Sherry Smith: Is the Consumer Really Trading Up?Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
MajorsOct 06, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names COO, CMOFGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.
Events & AwardsOct 06, 2026
JIS Fall Returns to MiamiThe 2026 edition will feature presentations on alternative materials and design trends, as well as pop-up activations on the show floor.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
AuctionsOct 05, 2026
The Star Cats of the Sandy Lerner AuctionThese jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.
CollectionsOct 05, 2026
Sorellina Writes Another Love Letter for ‘Postscript’ CollectionThe fine jewelry brand has expanded the collection that debuted at Couture with four new designs based on its most popular styles.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
Bruce Bridges Joins CIBJO BoardThe AGTA president was elected for a two-year term on the board of directors.
SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
