Sold in Cartier Paris as seen by the Cartier Paris inscription on the upper portion of the case, the present cigarette box conjures up images of another era, one of the 1950s where gentlemen smoked cigarettes out of gold cases and could still do so indoors. It evokes elegance, glamour and the advent of the jet set movement. It was when the beautiful people such as Audrey Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, and countless others swanned from one country to the next, taking the transatlantic flights and relishing in the newfound post war freedom.

Elegant and extremely well-preserved, the present cigarette case is preserved in excellent condition with sharp hallmarks and numbers throughout. The hinge closes tightly, and all the finishing remains crisp and defined. The discretion of cigarette cases meant that messages could be concealed inside, and the present object is no exception. It is inscribed 21 May 1954, and was most probably gifted to commemorate a special moment. As an even nicer touch, it is accompanied by its original Cartier presentation box stamped with the number of the case.