Cartier’s Metier
The history of Cartier displays a unique strength of character and a tradition with a pioneering spirit. Cartier has always played with the rules of elegance. Opening the doors to enchantment, the Cartier ateliers work magic on jewelry and watches.
The history of Cartier displays a unique strength of character and a tradition with a pioneering spirit. Cartier has always played with the rules of elegance. Opening the doors to enchantment, the Cartier ateliers work magic on jewelry and watches. Cartier recasts precious metals into a potent blend of excellence and singularity. If any name is associated with the fashioning and creation of unique jewellery watches, it is Cartier. For over a century, the House has been representing the art in the most exquisite manner, and undertaking orders form European royal houses, the aristocracy and the elite. To this day, the clear, pure lines of most of the jewellery watches from Cartier continue to bear the noble tradition of the company history.
The diamond set jewellery watch was once the preserve of royalty and the most affluent aristocracy, but that is no longer the case. In the 1990s, the diamond set jewellery watch obtained a rank that had, to that point, been held unchallenged by bracelets. At present, originality is expressed through contrasts and details. Larger, diamond set watches send off a variety of signals that reflect the multi-faceted features of the bearer – athletic, yet feminine; cool, yet fragile. Many of Cartier’s watches have provided inspiration for many of the classic models, and as artistic jewellery creations that embody the true essence of the Cartier reputation – creating art that celebrates the many special qualities of women.
Cartier’s watches have evolved through the meeting between the jeweler, the watchmaker and the precious materials with which they work. It all starts with an idea, a wish for certain colours, shapes and materials. Above everything, there is a strong desire to refine, discover and fashion the unique jewellery watch. It is the sum of the resources available as well as the expertise of the jewelers and watchmakers who inject fresh momentum into the precious Cartier jewellery watch. The perfectly honed and finished diamond is created with veneration and admiration, to take dreams and use the materials to make them tangible.
A precious stone fascinates us because it is a perfect piece of naturally generated material processed and refined by humans into a piece of art. It represents a luxury that has always amazed the beholder, without producing anything other than its lavishly luminous expression. Some of Cartier’s watches are a great mystery, while others are unique, hand finished pieces of art. In essence, each of them is a feminine icon in its own way. The Cartier name has always been associated with exclusive jewellery, watches and jewels, and that is not by chance. Cartier has always observed and upheld standards for both the quality of the materials and the quality of the skilled craft.The pursuit of the ultimate is manifested in the latest watch collection from the company – Clé de Cartier. Clé de Cartier masters the practice of graceful curves and gently rounded angles. Even the crown, which has a triangular cross section, feels smooth, and its oblong shape makes it a harmonious accent in the overall design. It is all a matter of precision, balance and proportions, that work together to bring forth a fluid, harmonious unity. The separate components merge into abstract perfection.
Clé means ‘key’ in French and refers to the crown of the watch, which was inspired by the winding keys in pocket watches. The crown, which is decorated with an oblong soft cabochon sapphire, is sufficiently singular, and the new way of setting the time and date brings about a titillating sense of gratification. A close examination of the dial reveals an extremely high degree of detail, while a more casual glance picks up a discreet quality that signals the passage of time.
Cartier’s métier is revealing beauty and dreams to a woman – in order to create and give pleasure. The fundamental principle of the watches is the impressiveness of the piece of work. Their slender profiles, elegant expressions and simple designs are the embodiment of luxury in its most refined sense – with no excess or unnecessary display.