Unprecedented Cartier Collection on Display
June 17, 25
(IDEX Online) - An unprecedented collection of over 350 Cartier jewels, many with royal connections, is now on display at London's Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum.
The exhibition, entitled Cartier: Crafting the Exceptional, runs until 16 November 16 and marks the first major Cartier showcase in the UK in nearly 30 years.
Among the highlights are diamonds from the late Queen Elizabeth II, pieces loaned from the Royal Collection by King Charles III, Princess Grace of Monaco's celebrated engagement ring, and the legendary Patiala necklace — a platinum and ruby masterpiece commissioned by the Maharaja of Patiala in 1928, originally set with nearly 3,000 diamonds and some of the world's rarest gemstones.
Other standout pieces include the Manchester Tiara, created by Cartier in 1903 for Consuelo, Dowager Duchess of Manchester, featuring over 400 rose-cut diamonds and inspired by 18th-century French design motifs.
The exhibition also features a selection of Tutti Frutti jewels from the 1920s, celebrated for their colorful gemstones and innovative design.
The exhibition brings together treasures from the Cartier collection, the Royal Collection, and private lenders worldwide, many of which are rarely, if ever, seen by the public.
It traces Cartier's evolution from its founding in Paris in 1847, through its expansion into London in 1902 (where it received a royal warrant from King Edward VII in 1904), to its present-day status as a global symbol of luxury and craftsmanship.
Pic courtesy Victoria and Albert Museum.