Brand comparisons usually run on opinion. This one runs on settled transactions: 1,599 recorded sales of Cartier and 125 of Bulgari, all in US dollars so the figures are directly comparable.
What each one actually costs
The median Cartier result is $6,875. The median Bulgari result is $3,500. On typical examples, Cartier carries roughly 2.0 times the price of Bulgari at auction.
Half of all Cartier sales land between $3,250 and $15,360. For Bulgari the middle half runs $1,664 to $9,600.
Which one surprises the specialists
51% of Cartier lots beat their high estimate, against 48% for Bulgari. The two are closely matched, which suggests both are priced with similar confidence.
Breadth of the record
Our archive covers 436 distinct Cartier references and 23 for Bulgari, with results going back to 2001 and 2006 respectively. The top recorded result is $1,654,276 for Cartier and $277,200 for Bulgari.
What this does not tell you
A median is not a verdict. These brands overlap heavily at the edges, and a well chosen example of the cheaper one will outrun a poor example of the dearer one. Condition, completeness and model matter more than the badge on the dial.
