This wonderful eighteen carat gold, diamond and turqoise turtle clip brooch was made in the 1950s by the famous French jeweller Van Cleef and Arpels, one of the most iconic names in French high jewellery.

Abundance

The post-World War II period was one of abundance. Jewellery was no longer the preserve of the happy few. Glamour was all the rage and the rise of the less formal cocktail party made fashion-conscious women seek a wide variety of jewellery. Van Cleef and Arpels met this demand in a superb way.

La Boutique

In the 1960s, the jewelry house turned its attention to a cheerful world of small animals, inspired by early cartoons and with the humorous proportions of cartoon animals. The collection, La Boutique, included a gallery of charming characters such as "the Rabbit and the Peaceful Tortoise" and "the Wise Owl," made of enamel and semi-precious stones, accented with diamonds and gold. Needless to say, this delightful collection was a real hit, offering an instantly modern, fun jewelry line for daytime wear. This turtle brooch was one of the animals in the collection.