Cartier, a jeweler of exceptional quality since 1847 Founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, the Cartier house has established itself as an indispensable benchmark in high jewelry and luxury watchmaking. Dubbed the «jeweller of kings, king of jewelers» by King Edward VII, Cartier embodies the exceptional French savoir-faire for more than 175 years. Recognizable by all, the Cartier universe is manifested through iconic creations: the Panthère collection, the Love and Juste un Clou bracelets, and the Tank and Santos watches. Each piece reflects a unique balance between creative boldness, technical precision, and exceptional materials: diamonds, precious stones, and noble metals. Today present worldwide, the Cartier house continues to sublimate the art of jewelry, between historical heritage and contemporary innovation.
Paris, 1847
13 rue de la Paix, Paris
Engraved in relief, usually on the frame's edge or on the reverse of the motif. The outline follows a cursive writing whose design has evolved: a signature that is too regular, or engraved with a laser on a piece presented as being old, should be a warning sign.
Present in almost all of the production of the 20th century. It allows the piece to be confirmed by the house archives, the sole authority in matters of authentication.
A lozenge containing the initials of the workshop and a symbol. It identifies the manufacturer, not the seller: several workshops have worked for the house according to the periods and countries.
Eagle’s head for 750-thousandth gold in France. Its absence on a piece declared French and ancient raises the question of its title or provenance.
Stone calibration, precision of the settings, finishing of the non-visible parts. This is where the best-made fakes are revealed: the back of a piece is just as well-crafted as its face.
This document is an editorial reference. It does not constitute a certificate: only the house, through its archives, can authenticate a document, and only an expert assessment in person can establish its value.
Louis-François Cartier takes over his master’s workshop. The house settles in rue Montorgueil, before several Parisian relocations.
The installation at 13 rue de la Paix marks the entry into the luxury jewelry district, just steps from Place Vendôme.
The Santos, designed for Alberto Santos-Dumont, paved the way for the watch worn on the wrist rather than in a pocket.
The design is inspired by the tanks seen on the front line. The rectangular box with stretcher beds becomes one of the formal landmarks of the house.
Designed by Aldo Cipullo for Cartier New York, the bracelet closed with a screwdriver introduces an object whose wearing requires a gesture, not just a simple clasp.
Commonly documented historical references cited for editorial information. The exact dates of a piece are verified with the archives of the house.
Names of collections cited as editorial references. These designations are the property of the Cartier house; Esprit Joaillerie has no connection with it.
There are objects that have survived the century without ever losing their power of fascination. Not because they are old, but because they have been alive, worn, filmed, admired, and desired.
The book Cartier - En Equilibre, signed by Mathieu Deldicque and Valentin Pérez and published by Flammarion, offers an immersion into the unique universe of the Cartier House.
The Al Thani Collection continues its dialogue with the history of prestige. After exploring medieval and Renaissance art, it concludes its trilogy with Dynastic Jewels: Power, Prestige and Passion (1700-1950).
One hundred years after lighting up the world, Art Deco is finding its appeal once again at the Museum of Decorative Arts. The exhibition «1925-2025. Cent Years of Art Deco», presented from October 22, 2025 to April 26, 2026, offers a journey through the century that questions the relationship between modernity and beauty, luxury and creation.
Before taking shape in metal and stone, the jewel is born from a drawing. The exhibition Designs of Jewelry. The Secrets of Creation, presented at the Petit Palais, reveals the richness of its collection of jewelry designs, preserved since the 1990s and rarely shown to the public. Through a selection of more than 5,500 sheets, the museum reveals a century of ingenuity, from the 19th to the 20th century.
In its new book Cartier Nature Sauvage, published by Éditions Flammarion, the Cartier house reveals a captivating collection of high-quality jewelry inspired by the wild fauna.
Nature Sauvage is a true theater where precious animals come to life. The style of this collection is both varied and free. Figurative, it manifests itself through a polar bear advancing over a bank of diamonds and rock crystal. Abstract, it radicalizes with a ring inspired by the scales of a crocodile, designed with a bold architecture.
Every year at the beginning of summer, Paris transforms into a dazzling showcase, hosting the Haute Jewelry Presentation Week alongside the Fashion Week. This eagerly awaited period sees the greatest jewelers from Place Vendôme and international houses compete with virtuosity to present their creations.
The alliance between form and design embodies the universal language of aesthetics, where each element finds its place in a visual symphony, demonstrating the human ability to transcend the ordinary through creativity and innovation. The creative and innovative spirit of the Cartier House unveils its latest collection, Polymorph. Embracing audacity and metamorphosis as founding principles, Cartier Libre resonates like a new symphony of jewelry.
In the year 2024, a century has passed since the house of Cartier gave birth to one of its most emblematic creations, the Trinity ring. In celebration of this historic date, Cartier is proudly celebrating the centenary of this jewelry icon, a true symbol of the values that have driven the House since its founding.
This work in the Assouline Ultimate series is a dive into the soul of the jewelry house. Through captivating texts, it reveals unpublished stories about the creation of jewelry and objects that mark the history of jewelry.
For the second consecutive year, Cartier is preparing to unveil its Jewelry Institute, which will be exceptionally open to the public during the European Heritage Days.
A new adventure begins at Cartier with the splendid collection titled Le Voyage Recommencé. Like a thrilling journey, this collection embodies a unique journey where all the fundamental elements of the House are reinvented through a new and unexpected prism.
During this week dedicated to excellence, jewelry designers compete with ingenuity to present pieces that captivate the imagination and awaken the senses.
Tressage de Cartier a limited series. The house Cartier offers a new limited series conceived by its Creation Studios, Tressage. Above all, it is the savoir-faire of the house and its creative freedom that are revealed with this collection, issued in a limited series. Cartier Libre stimulates the imagination and offers an original inspiration every year. We highlight […]
While the Maison Cartier excels in jewelry craftsmanship, it has also been a leader in the watchmaking industry for more than a century. As such, one of its most emblematic creations is the Tank. There is no doubt that this watch is a symbol of timeless elegance.
After more than 2 years of work (from June 2020 to October 2022), a new chapter of this creative saga opens today.
The Maison CARTIER takes a look at the Beautés du Monde. First of all, it is necessary to admire them to embellish them, and that is what the jeweler offers. Thus, nature and cultures inspire creations following lines, geometry, or sometimes abstraction. Moreover, exceptional stones captivate the eye with exquisite beauty.
It goes without saying that since its creation in 1847, the jeweler Cartier has passed on and perpetuated its know-how while innovating with audacity. It is in this spirit of transmission that the Cartier Jewelry Institute wishes to inspire and encourage new vocations. Thus, the visits through a unique itinerary organized for these days highlight the jewelry culture.
The very feline book from Assouline, «Cartier Panthère» is beautiful and if it isn’t already in your library, this little preview will make you want to adopt it. Simply magnificent, «Cartier Panthère» explores the panther in the history of art and the evolution of the Cartier Panthère jewelry. From its manufacture to its influence in […]
Thus, in this richly illustrated book, the new CARTIER Haute Joaillerie collection is accompanied by a text highlighting the privileged relationship between contemporary art and nature.
A true work of art, the academician's sword is a bespoke, personal and symbolic jewel. First of all, the sword bears the symbols representing the life and work of the future academician.
In the course of a reading, literature speaks of surprising jewels like a precious tortoise. So do you know the incredible precious tortoise, sparkling with gems of Jean des Esseintes? The main character in the novel A Rebours from the late 19th century, the author Joris-Karl Huysmans takes us into the madness of gems. It should be noted that Jean des Esseintes, a manic aesthete at […]
Esprit Joaillerie takes you on a journey through Mexico, searching for a pearl. To begin this journey, we turn to John Steinbeck's novel, The Pearl. It is worth noting that this pearl is special. In fact, it is the one that attracts at first glance with its clarity, purity, and mystery. In fact, it is the Pearl of the World.
And if the most beautiful pearls in the world were hidden in Pline’s book. By visiting certain literary works, we can enjoy the description of beautiful gems or beautiful jewels. In this regard, let us turn to the naturalist writer of the 1st century, Pline. He describes the pearls in the first great encyclopedia known, the Natural History, […]
A very beautiful start to the year for haute joaillerie, which presented its first collections of 2019. Esprit Joaillerie attended most of these presentations; here is an overview.
Esprit Joaillerie remains true to its appointment at the windows of Place Vendôme, a moment to celebrate a change of year while remaining amazed. Indeed, it is all the savoir-faire of high-end jewelry that is presented in their windows. May 2019 be a year of beautiful creations, audacity, and wonder. Happy New Year!
The most beautiful high jewelry collections of 2018 to discover. It should be noted that the high jewelry presentation week in Paris takes place at the very beginning of July. It is the event where the jewelers unveil their latest creations. It is thus an opportunity to discover extraordinary stones and exceptional jewelry. First of all, the Boucheron house. Its new collection is a […]
It is one of the new stories by Villiers de l’Isle-Adam, Véra, written in the 19th century that takes us into a fantastical universe. The story is very short and written in a style very close to the prose poems. » Last night, his beloved had vanished in such profound joy, lost in such exquisite […]
The wonderful splinters of the windows of Place Vendôme. Esprit Joaillerie could not end this 2017 year without a nod to Place Vendôme. After all, the windows of Place Vendôme fascinate me from a very young age. So I asked my grandmother to take me there to see the jewels. These windows […]
To conclude this unique event, the Ecole des Arts Joailliers dazzled with an exhibition of high-quality jewelry from the collection of a Dubai collector.
A Taste of Cannes to finish off these summer holidays. Esprit Joaillerie takes advantage of a final dip in the sea to prolong the summer and open the doors of the famous Intercontinental Carlton in Cannes. Of course, it’s also a nod to the mythical and glamorous film that combines jewelry, luxury, and the Côte d’Azur: La Main au Collet. It’s in […]
The exhibition Medusa Jewels and Taboos. To begin with, this exhibition is taking place at the Museum of Modern Art in the City of Paris. Medusa, Jewels and Taboos presents more than 400 jewels that, just like the face of Medusa in Greek mythology, attract and disturb. So whoever designs it, wears it, or looks at it, does not […]
The jewels from the Al Thani collection at the Grand Palais. The exhibition Des Grands Moghols aux Maharajahs : Les bijoux de la collection Al Thani opens its doors this Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at the Grand Palais. It is indeed an event because it presents an exceptional collection. Because it is the universe of Indian jewelry and […]
Happy New Year. Place Vendôme is a beautiful time when the windows of Place Vendôme are even more wonderful. On this occasion, Esprit Joaillerie shares with you the windows of Place Vendôme from the end of 2016. So, let the magic take place as you stroll under the stars, between dream and reality in […]
Magnificent Jewels at Sotheby’s The very beautiful autumn sale at Sotheby’s will be made up of very beautiful jewels and also of history. On November 16th in Geneva, the prestigious auction house will offer one of the most important antique jewelry of the last fifty years. Composed of colored diamonds, this superb suite contains elements that would have made it a […]
The time of jade in the Guimet Museum. On the occasion of the exhibition «Jade of the Emperors in Art Deco at the Guimet Museum”, we discover this stone from several perspectives. It should be noted that the sages of Antiquity compared virtue to jade. For them: “It is the image of goodness, because it is soft to the touch; of prudence, […]
The dream of Asia in the collections of Cartier and Baur. We would like to point out that a very beautiful exhibition is starting today at the Baur Foundation, Museum of Art of the Far East in Geneva. To our great delight, the dream of Asia in the collections of the Cartier House and those of the Baur Foundation are now open to the visitors. It is true that it was in the 19th […]
The already famous Blue Moon Diamond takes its name from an English expression once in a blue moon, which refers to an event that occurs very rarely.
Fine Jewels at Sotheby’s A nod to the June 11th London sale at Sotheby’s, to appreciate ancient jewels! To know or recognize master jewelers through their creations. And not to forget them. We were able to appreciate some very beautiful jewels there. […]
Special sale at Sotheby’s. A meeting between high-end jewelry and aristocratic jewels at Sotheby’s. It is a privilege to attend the presentation of the “Magnicient Jewels and Noble Jewels” sale that took place this Thursday evening at the Charpentier Gallery. This sale will take place on November 12th in Geneva at Sotheby’s. It […]
BROCHE CARTIER PARIS «Palmier» 1957 In platinum and white gold set with brilliant-cut diamonds and baguette-cut diamonds, weighing a total of 23.10 carats. Archives Cartier Paris Graphite pencil and gouache drawing 1957 «Palmier» brooch seen at the Cartier exhibition at the Grand Palais in December 2013
