Pair of star sapphire cufflinks, mounted in platinum c.1920
Unmarked, accompanied by a Cartier case

Born in 1895, the son of the famous diamond entrepreneur Barney Barnato, Woolf was the ultimate playboy of the 1920’s. When his father died when Woolf was two years old, he inherited a fortune, the first instalment of which was a payment of £250,000 in 1914, at the age of 19.

He was an avid sportsman, and became a Captain in the Royal Field Artillery during the first world war.

He purchased his first Bentley in 1925, and a year later bought the company! He became a member of a small social group of wealthy gentlemen with a preference for Bentley cars, known as “Bentley Boys”. He won races at Brooklands, setting a 24 hour record speed, and won Le Mans 24 hour race three times. Another claim to fame is he took part in the “Blue Train Races”, driving from Cannes to his club in St.James’, London, in 22 ½ hours.

Anyway, he sounds like an amazing, and very fortunate, character. These were his cufflinks.

Gifted by the family to a friend, accompanied by a note stating ”Belonged to my father Woolf Barnato, he always wore them”

SOLD