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In 1973, at an auction in Geneva, the Cartier Maison made its first historical acquisition. The Portique mystery clock was made over 50 years prior, and its acquisition ignited an exploration of Cartier’s most daring, technically bold pieces. In the following years, sourcers sought these rare pieces, adding them to what would eventually become the 3000-piece strong Cartier Collection.
The collection is comprised of intricate pieces studded with rare gemstones which push the boundaries of both jewellery-making and engineering: an Art Deco-style tiara made in 1914 from platinum, diamonds, natural pearls, onyx and enamel; a three-dimensional panther clip brooch made for the Duke of Windsor in 1949, crafted from platinum, white gold, white and yellow diamonds and a Kashmir sapphire totalling 152.35 carats. These pieces demonstrate Cartier’s long-running fascination with pushing the boundaries of jewellery making, and the Maison’s new collection of Cartier Soir bags is the latest manifestation of its technical prowess.
Part handbag, part piece of jewellery, the Cartier Soir bags bring together the Maison’s jewellery-making savoir-faire and excellence in object design. Precious stones like hessonite garnet, green onyx and violet amethyst are hand-selected, cut into cabochon shapes and used to adorn bags, while elsewhere, delicate embroidery and beading are employed to add intricate detail. In one cylindrical style, precious gem cabochons stud black calfskin, with the Cartier signature engraved on the gold frame. Another opulent style fashions crocodile leather into a classic rectangular evening bag silhouette, while hessonite garnets decorate the top of the bag and a removable gold chain brings the accessory into jewellery territory. Beading and embroidery of gold lurex threads on satin give the bags a Baroque sensibility — a theme that appeared repeatedly on the spring/summer 2027 runways.
Naturally, Cartier’s feats of craftsmanship are limited-edition, available online and in boutiques in the lead-up to the festive season. Can’t you just see one of Cartier’s creations sitting happily beneath the Christmas tree?
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