ALDO CIPULLO FOR CARTIER: AN 18K GOLD 'LOVE' BANGLE BRACELET...

Estimate

€5,000 - €6,000

ALDO CIPULLO FOR CARTIER: AN 18K GOLD 'LOVE' BANGLE BRACELET, 1970 The hinged bangle decorated with screw motifs, in 18K gold, signed, Cartier & Aldo Cipullo, stamped 1970 & Love, with maker's case and later screwdriver for opening and closing the bracelet, inner length approximately 16cm, width 6.3mm Designed in 1969 in NYC, the Cartier Love bangle was the creation of Italian jewellery designer, Aldo Cipullo, who created this piece in 1969. “Love,” said Cipullo, “has become too commercial, but life without love is nothing. What modern people want are love symbols that look semi-permanent — or, at least, require a trick to remove. After all, love symbols should suggest an everlasting quality.” Cipullo was known for his innovative and bold designs. Initially he had proposed the design of the Love Bangle for Tiffany &Co. When Tiffany turned down his concept for the Love bangle, Aldo offered the design to Cartier. At the time, Cartier New York was independent from the Parisian Maison, and under the dynamic direction of Michael Thomas, who immediately saw the massive potential of the Love bangle to appeal to a new generation with entirely new values, lifestyle, and attitudes. The Love bangle as a symbol of everlasting love and commitment. The bangle features a simple, sleek design with a screw motif, inspired by medieval chastity belts, and it is meant to be worn as a symbol of love and unity. It is distinctive for its seamless, unbroken design, with a screwdriver needed to open and close it, symbolising the idea that love is something to be kept safe and protected. As the story goes, the bangles could at first only be purchased by couples who would surrender the screwdrivers to one another. When Cartier introduced the bangle, they were given to high-profile couples like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. According to Vogue, some NYC hospitals keep a Love bangle screwdriver on hand in case patients need their accessory removed in an emergency. While a Cartier Love bangle may be easier to remove than a chastity belt, it has still proved enduring, and a smart investment. What makes the Cartier Love bangle even more intriguing is the way it is meant to be worn. Traditionally, the bangle is given by one partner to another, and it is secured on the wrist with the help of the accompanying screwdriver. Once fastened, it is typically not meant to be removed, symbolising the permanence of the relationship. The Love Bangle quickly gained popularity among couples, celebrities, and fashion icons. Its iconic design and symbolism resonated with people around the world. The bangle not only became a symbol of love and commitment, but a status symbol as well.