Cartier “Byzantine” Belt or Necklace in Gold Vermeil, Signed, circa 1970

Similar to this design is the “Jackie O” belt, which is the more common counterpart to this rare “Byzantine” belt, which has a 1960s Brutalist style design, utilizing various sized pierced concentric squares and hook clasps.

Designed as twenty heavily textured sterling silver pierced brutalist squares, dipped in 24 carat gold, suspending a drop of three further similarly-shaped squares, signed 925 and Cartier to the pendant. Lengths: 28″ chain with 5″ drop and two additional 1.25″ extender pieces . This piece may be worn as a statement necklace or a belt.

Note, the Byzantine design is the much more rare counterpart to the Jackie O Belt, which was made famous by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis who was seen wearing the belt on the Isle of Capri in the early 1970s. Her particular belt sold for $24,000 at auction in 1996. Later on, at Elizabeth Taylor’s estate sale, a similar Cartier belt of the same design sold for $52,500.