rom simplicity to extravagance, through to subtle shades and bold chromatic harmonies, balancing symmetry and asymmetry: harmony is also born from the exploration and reconciliation of opposing forces. This singular vision is a balancing act, a tightrope that defines the maison’s creative approach.
"The paradox of sophisticated simplicity is to create a clear and obvious line through its sobriety. It is the art of looking at things differently, but it is also the art of creating the right balance. It is the art of equilibrium, engraved at the heart of our creative approach, that reveals Cartier’s sense of harmony.” - Jacqueline Karachi, Director of High Jewellery Creation
Shito is a design that prioritises the stones, reflecting the maison’s vision of high jewellery. This necklace was created from two 49.37-carat Zambian emerald drops, selected for the harmony of their volume and the elegance of this material. Suspended in asymmetrical pendants, they are the beginning and end of a line of emeralds and diamonds.
Two pure curves delicately joined by an X of diamonds and, on the back, by an adjustable clasp set with diamonds. The refinement of the whole piece rests on the precision of the lines: that “nothing in excess” that says it all.
Hyala is a creation that sits as lightly as a veil over the skin, with an array of diamonds and coloured sapphires. For this necklace, the delicate workmanship of the rose gold gives the impression that the stones are set directly onto the neck.
In an effect of transparency that is as surprising as it is mysterious, a pear-shaped diamond sparkles below the 5.71-carat oval-cut diamond set in a pendant. The ultimate sophistication of this necklace, with a finesse reminiscent of a spider’s web, reflects the expertise of the Maison’s jewellery craftsmen.
Panthère Orbitale boasts intense colours and bold volumes: it’s against this powerful backdrop that the panther appears, perched on a coral cabochon, in an emblematic pose from the maison.
From the tips of its ears to its emerald eyes, the animal is sculpted with a coat of diamonds and onyx, exuding realism and vitality. Coral blends with amethyst in a harmony that flows from the cabochon in the centre to the smallest beads around the neck. The amethyst reveals its colour density through the fullness of its volumes.
For Panthère Dentelée, first there’s the animal. Its lines are clean and its details are precise. With onyx spots, diamonds and openwork motifs, its lace-like body is given depth. The panther expresses the unprecedented expertise of the maison’s jewellers.
Then there are the stones: emeralds from Colombia, transformed into a cascade of faceted beads of different sizes and weights. From its intense colours to the impression of fluidity and its supple drape, everything comes to life thanks to the threading technique, which requires respect for the design, the curves and the layering. The iridescent material intensifies the light through the facets of each stone. Their uniqueness has a lifelike beauty.
The snow leopard is one of the most difficult big cats to observe, as its coat renders it practically invisible in the whiteness of winter. Tsagaan captures the essence of the animal: rare, elusive and moving. The design is clean and restricted to only the essential.
With a trompe-l’œil effect, the interplay of lines makes the feline’s head appear or disappear depending on the angle from which it is viewed. The styling is based on the interwoven geometric motifs set with kite-, lozenge- and triangle-cut diamonds and enhanced with onyx, in one of Cartier’s signature chromatic duos. The alternation of full and empty spaces creates an impression of movement with a sense of mystery.
As always, process at Cartier starts with the creative stones. For Traforato, three octagonal Colombian emeralds of different weights and positions form the central axis of a geometric mesh. Touches of emerald and onyx here and there enhance the relief and add rhythm, creating an optical effect and an impression of movement. Openwork enhances the palette: a combination of three of Cartier’s signature colours, black, white and green.
Because its oval shape evokes the eye-spots of a peacock, this Ceylon sapphire, an exceptional 58.08-carat cabochon, inspired Cartier to create Pavocelle dedicated to this majestic bird.
The entire structure of this set transposes the volume of the central stone into a succession of openwork motifs, reminiscent of the peacock’s tail and its beauty. With lightness and movement, like diamond-set lace this creation seems to come to life before our eyes. In keeping with the Maison’s tradition of transformable jewellery, the centre stone and its support can be transformed into a collar brooch. The pear-shaped diamond in the clasp can then be added as a pendant.
The Summae comprises a ring, a necklace and a pair of earrings. Nothing but the essential is the creative intention behind this set
As if drawn with a single stroke, the refined design features a chromatic trio emblematic of Cartier’s jewellery creations: black, white and green, which combines troïdia‑cut diamonds, a touch of onyx and emerald beads.
These creations of true finesse and lightness are crafted using highly precise savoir-faire with a virtually invisible structure that gives the impression, particularly on the ring, of levitating stones.
“The new En Équilibre collection reflects the expertise of the Maison’s craftsmen. Nearly 100,000 hours of work have gone into these creations. Each piece is, in itself, a technical challenge that preserves the essence of Cartier High Jewellery, a masterpiece of balance, combining suppleness, lightness of touch and clean lines to make the invisible as precious as the visible. It’s a collection whose uniqueness has inspired the craftsmen who created it and filled them with pride.” - Alexa Abitbol, Director of the High Jewellery Workshops
