Seized: $25m of Fake Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels Jewelry

US customs officers seized five shipments of counterfeit Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry mostly from China, with a combined “if genuine” value of over $25m.

Almost 2,200 items – rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces – were intercepted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Louisville, Kentucky, as they arrived in the country.

The first shipment arrived from China on 19 June, heading to a residence in Pennsylvania. Officers seized 318 bracelets with fake Cartier trademarks.

The second arrived the same day from Hong Kong, destined for a residence in Tampa with 490 necklaces, 205 pair of earrings, and 80 rings, all with fake Van Cleef and Arpels trademarks.

Three more shipments arrived from China the following day containing 800 “Cartier” bracelets. Two shipments were heading to a residence in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the other was heading to Michigan.

The 2,193 items were deemed to bear counterfeit marks,” the CBP said. “Had these goods been genuine, the five shipments would have had a combined manufacturer’s suggested retail price of over $25.32m.”

LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of field operations, Chicago field office, said: “Intellectual property theft threatens America’s economic vitality and funds criminal activities and organized crime.

“When consumers purchase counterfeit goods, legitimate companies lose revenue, which can force those companies to cut jobs. Our officers are dedicated to protecting private industry and consumers by removing these kinds of shipments from our commerce.”

Source: DCLA

Christie’s to Sell Sassoon Family Treasures

Jewelry belonging to the famed Sassoon dynasty is to be sold at auction by Christie’s Geneva.

Five lots, including an Art Deco Cartier diamond necklace (pictured), will be offered for sale during the Magnificent Jewels event on 12 November.

The Cartier necklace, circa 1935, survived a World War II blast that destroyed the bank where it was being stored. 

Total carat weight is 130 carats to 140 carats, according to the Christie’s catalogue, including round diamonds of 10.58 carats, 7.80 carats and 7.24 carats. Estimate CHF 900,000 to CHF 1.3m ($1m to $1.5m).

The Sassoons were a prominent Jewish family, originally from Baghdad, who made their fortune from the 1830s trading a wide range of commodities to Kolkata, Karachi, China, Japan, Myanmar, and Malaysia. 

Under the stewardship of patriarch David Sassoon (1792 to 1864) they established one of the first international conglomerates.

The Sassoon family went on to become part of Britain’s social, cultural and political elite, and were known for their discerning taste and passion for fine jewelry.

Among the other Sassoon lots is a Cartier ruby and diamond necklace (estimate $250,000 to $300,000) and an Art Deco Colombian emerald and diamond bracelet, circa 1925 (estimate $300,000 to $400,000).

Source: DCLA