Bargain Baubles

Cartier's dazzling discounts

It was worth a double take, perhaps even a moment of lingering contemplation.

Cartier, the world-renowned jeweler, last week announced a two-week clearance sale. It was the first ever in the company's glistening history. The sale's goal is to unload about 1,000 items of gold boutique jewelry, the first step in changing the company's marketing strategy.

Until this year Cartier distributed and sold jewelry and leather products manufactured by a variety of companies. The firm now intends to sell only products designed and produced by its own 300 jewelry craftsmen in France. The sale will make room for the new merchandise.

Because it is the largest of the firm's ten American stores, Cartier's Fifth Avenue shop in New York City was selected as the exclusive site of the sale. Even with price reductions of 15% to 50%, however, here will be no giveaway. Among the offerings: bracelets that had sold for beween $320 and $5,400 were marked down to between $150 and $2,900; rings hat had been priced from $280 to $3,900 were selling for $ 120 to $2,500.

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