Cartier jewels are recognized in the world of jewelery for the style and originality of their designs. Characteristics that reflect the creativity and evolution in the decorative arts that this important firm has had. And that also honor an excellent trajectory of more than 170 years of history, for which it has become a synonym of luxury and exclusivity.
Without a doubt, the jewelry industry has famous designers worldwide, but Cartier’s creations manage to captivate the most demanding. Not in vain, this brand has been the object of desire of Royal Houses, aristocrats and important personalities from the world of fashion and cinema. For this reason, today we will tell you what some of the most emblematic jewels in the history of the Maison Cartier have been.
jeweler of kings
Cartier is one of the few brands that has had the luxury of designing for kings, and for this reason it is recognized worldwide as jewelers for kings. Since many of its collections belonged to great royal monarchs, such as King Edward VIII of England.
Between the cartier jewelry The most famous and designed for royalty include diadems, bandeau-type tiaras and hair ornaments for queens and princesses made at the beginning of the last century.
Another mysterious piece is an impressive 2,930 diamond gala necklace created for Maharaja Sir Bhupindar Singh of Patiala in 1928. It is believed to be the largest necklace in the world. It is said that for the elaboration of it, he would have given a cornucopia of jewels to give him the Cartier style, among them a large De Beers diamond that he inherited from his father. The bad news is that more than 50 years have passed in which nothing has been known about this majestic necklace.
On the other hand, it is also a brooch in the shape of a panther, made in pavé of white and yellow sapphires and diamonds that rests on a sapphire cabochon of more than 152 carats. This brooch that It belongs to the jewelery collection of the Duchess of Windsor, it would be one of her most beloved jewels. Well, she was given by the Duke of Windsor in 1949.
This jewel was reacquired by Cartier after the duchess’s death in 1987. For the substantial sum of seven million dollars at a Sothebys auction. However, we cannot forget that the tiara designed in 1936 that the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, wore in 2011 at her wedding with Prince William.
The Cartier Jewels and the divas of cinema
The French firm also made beautiful works for the great divas of cinema, one of them was a luxurious rock crystal, platinum and diamond bracelet for Gloria Swanson.
In addition, a special place is occupied by two mythical necklaces: «the snake necklace» drawn up in 1968 and «the crocodile necklace» gold, yellow diamonds and emeralds made in 1975. Both made in a special way at the request of the Mexican actress María Félix, who was a lover of precious stones and an ambassador of the Cartier house.
Likewise, another of the emblematic cartier jewelryit is Cartier diamond. Given to Elizabeth Taylor by actor Richard Burton in 1969 to celebrate her 40th birthday. Dubbed the Taylor Burton diamond, this was the first diamond sold for more than a million dollars.
But, Elizabeth Taylor also an ambassador of the maison Cartier and would own another of the most famous jewels of the French house, the necklace of «The Pilgrim». It is a double round necklace of pearls, rubies and diamonds, which supports a natural pearl dating from the 16th century. The necklace was designed by Elizabeth Taylor herself and Al Durante de Cartier.
The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace
The Hutton-Mdivani jadeite necklace is named after its owners. Barbara Hutton (the richest woman of the 20th century) and Nina Mdivani (the princess of Georgia between 1910 and 1987, who was also the daughter-in-law of the famous British writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). The necklace is made up of 27 green jade beads and its price is 24 million euros
The first wristwatch for men– The Santos Dumont watch
In the year 1900, the visionary creator Louis Cartier, who at that time was in charge of the firm. He created the first men’s wristwatch by helping a friend. The Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos Dumont, so that he could see the time without stopping maneuvering his plane.
War-inspired Cartier jewelry
A jewel inspired by the First World War was the tank clock . This watch created in 1917 emulates the structure of a tank seen from below. It is an iconic model that represented a breakthrough and unique styling, due to its key components. These include the Roman numerals, the railway minute hand and the crown set with a cabochon sapphire.
Also, it is the “freed bird” brooch, created 1942 at the time France was occupied by the Nazis. As an emblem of those who were against the occupation. It was launched in 1944 when the Nazis were expelled from Paris. This is how caged birds were born as a symbol of the time.
the trinity ring
This is one of the most famous rings in the world of jewelry. Created in 1924, the Trinity ring was named after being made up of three linked rings, one in platinum, one in rose gold and one in yellow. And it would have been created by Luis Cartier for Jean Cocteau as a symbol of his friendship.
Finally, among Cartier’s most emblematic jewels is one of its innovations, those called “mysterious pendulums”. That they were very successful in the 20s of the last century, in which the hands of the clock seemed to hang from the void. Definitely unique jewels, with special meanings that at the time were created for a specific purpose and that have undoubtedly made history in the world of jewelry, remaining in the market as one of the best brands.