{"product_id":"cartier-18k-tri-color-gold-basket-weave-lighter-c-1970s","title":"Cartier 18K Tri-Color Gold Basket Weave Lighter, c.1970s","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Cartier lighter in a bespoke 18k gold case, woven in three colours by an Italian goldsmith. French hallmarked, fully functional, and the rarest variant of an uncommon form.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mechanism is standard Cartier Paris production, serial C69442. The gold case around it is not. It was made to order by an Italian atelier, commissioned through a Rome retailer that worked in direct partnership with Cartier. The result is a lighter that carries Cartier's engineering under goldwork that was never part of the catalogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree alloys of 18 karat gold, yellow, white and rose, are drawn into narrow bands and woven across the full body from base to cap. The weave is continuous, tight and even on every face. Most Cartier basket weave lighters of this era were finished in a single gold; working three alloys together, each with different properties under the tools, is substantially harder, and few goldsmiths attempted it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe French eagle head hallmark confirms the case as solid 18 karat gold. Cartier's maker's mark sits on the mechanism, and the silver-plated base plate carries its Plargent stamp in the standard Cartier manner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt works as a lighter should. It sparks, holds its gas, and lights reliably; the cap hinge is firm and snaps shut flush. The tri-color weave is crisp and sharply defined with no wear-through on any of the three golds. The base plate shows cosmetic patina and minor plating loss on the underside, consistent with age and not visible in normal use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe commission, the weave and the condition are set out in the rooms below.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cartier Paris","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54528987267411,"sku":"CI-0022","price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1080\/3121\/3907\/files\/cartier-paris-18k-solid-gold-curiosity-item-4_Hero.jpg?v=1786218098","url":"https:\/\/estatecollection.nl\/products\/cartier-18k-tri-color-gold-basket-weave-lighter-c-1970s","provider":"The Estate Collection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}