Cartier’s 2024 “Markers of Style” high jewelry exhibition is an homage to a century of iconic elegance, showcasing the brand’s signature elements of Fauna & Flora and Architecture & Purity. This year’s theme, “Hidden Wonders,” introduces the Special Order Service, a realm where the stories behind the gemstones are unveiled. Over 300 pieces will be on display in a rotation that continues Cartier’s commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and innovative design during a seven-day, by-appointment-only event.
Cartier’s High Jewelry Exhibition: A Legacy of Style
Cartier’s “Markers of Style” inherits a century-old tradition of classic style, blending supreme craftsmanship with innovative design. For the first time, thirty rare unmounted gemstones travel to Taiwan, allowing guests to admire Cartier’s incomparable aesthetic. These stones not only enhance the brand’s luster but also, through Cartier’s dedication to art and aesthetics, add legendary color, setting aesthetic and rarity standards for future creations. Cartier also offers a bespoke service for loyal customers, continuing the tradition of custom jewelry for luminaries like the Duchess of Windsor, Barbara Hutton, and María Félix, allowing customers to realize personalized dream designs.
At this year’s exhibition press conference, Cartier invited Taiwanese actress Yang Jin-Hua, actor Liu Guan-Ting, and rising star Liu Yi-Er to appreciate the exquisite craftsmanship and embark on a journey of “fashion paradigms”.
Fauna & Flora: The Spirit of Freedom and Elegance
Cartier’s animal and plant jewelry exudes a soft yet confident temperament, embodying a spirit of unrestrained freedom. The uniqueness of Cartier lies in the selection of distinctive flora, from native plants to rare species, all revealing breathtaking allure. The animal jewelry series is equally unique, featuring wild and untamed beasts such as panthers, crocodiles, and snakes, as well as rare creatures from distant lands, designs that navigate between natural realism and abstract beauty.
The Cartier panther motif, first applied to jewelry watch design in 1914, has become a signature pattern. The contrast of diamonds and onyx creates a striking balance of black and white, inspiring many energetic creations.
The “ANANSI Necklace,” composed of rare peridots, exquisite platinum, and diamonds, plays with geometric shapes to emit aesthetic strength, reminiscent of a spider’s web glistening after a storm. The design’s composition precisely showcases nature’s visage through the gemstones’ impeccable cut.
Architecture & Purity: The Essence of Structural Elegance
Cartier’s pure beauty of jewelry design eschews excessive decoration, focusing on highlighting the gemstones’ radiance and structure. Through minimalist design, Cartier skillfully uses diamonds of various cuts to express a commitment to simplicity, a core philosophy of the brand’s style. This “moderate elegance” emphasizes clean lines, harmonious shapes, precise proportions, and overall balance, perfectly presenting Cartier’s unique interpretation of pure beauty.
Among this year’s exceptional pieces, the “IMPERIO Necklace” stands out. It continues Cartier’s tradition as “jeweler to kings and king of jewelers,” combining Art Deco style with the classic green and black color scheme, featuring a 23.56-carat emerald from Colombia. The necklace’s linear geometry, playing with light and shadow, captivates with its dynamism and vitality.
Cartier and Color: The Classic Green and Black Palette
Since the 1900s, Cartier has been boldly experimenting with color and material contrasts. Among these combinations, the green and black ensemble emerged in the early 1910s and became popular in the following decade, reflecting the brand’s research into streamlined shapes and memorable designs. Used to create subtle shading effects or decorative colors, black onyx, lacquer, or enamel perfectly enhances the emerald’s mysterious charm while emphasizing dimensionality and sculptural effects in each piece. This pattern quickly became a recurring element during the Art Deco period, with Cartier pioneering this trend in the early 20th century. The green and black palette remains fully preserved today, explored by unique modern pieces that investigate the effects of light or movement. The onyx’s small, highly geometric dashed lines emphasize the emerald’s vibrant green, injecting dynamism into the design.
SPECIAL ORDER: Cartier’s Exclusive Custom Service
Cartier’s exclusive custom service provides an authentic and intimate experience for clients. When clients express preferences for specific gemstones or designs, or when planning a surprise, these requests spark rich dialogue, ultimately merging into a shared vision. Cartier then harnesses its unique style and exquisite craftsmanship to turn this commitment into reality. In every step of the custom process, from design conception, gemstone selection, to final polishing, Cartier adheres to its renowned rigorous standards, ensuring each piece is an extraordinary creation, adding a new chapter to the brand’s history.
