A PERIOD THAT SHINES

On sale at Bonhams’ June auction was an art deco-era onyx and diamond jabot pin, signed by Cartier and dated 1925. The pin, estimated at HK$120,000–150,000, features brilliant diamonds with black onyx spheres as terminals. It’s important to remember that when you buy a period piece, you’re also buying a piece of history. “Black became very important in the 20th century as a way of expressing yourself,” Thompson explains.

vital vintage clockwise from top: a belle époque-era lily-of-the-valley diamond devantde-corsage brooch by cartier (1912); Queen of Burma cushion-shaped ruby and diamond ring by cartier (1937); art deco emerald drop and diamond fringe necklace by Van...