Complimentary Cartier valuations at Dawsons

If we were to ask you to think of a luxury jewellery brand, which name would spring to mind in today's market? We would be shocked if Cartier didn't pop into your head at least once! Placing 56th on Forbes' list of the most valuable brands, we take a closer look at this iconic brand. 

Within this article you will get to know more about the brand itself, discover the most popular and valuable finds to look out for in today's market, obtain a Cartier care guide and more exciting information. So, let's dive into this self-proclaimed symbol of elegance and style. 

Request a Valuation

Contact us

Cartier

Cartier, is considered one of the world’s most successful jewellery businesses. Renowned for pushing the boundaries to reveal the beauty in everything, through welcoming visionaries, taking risks, open-mindedness, and curiosity, it’s not surprising they were named "King of Jewellers, Jeweller of Kings", before turning their attention towards watches.

From humble beginnings, Cartier was founded in Paris, 1847, by the jeweller Louis-François Cartier (1819-1904). His son Alfred managed the business from 1870, before passing it on to his three sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques, in 1899. It is through the brilliance of these brothers that a small Parisian jeweller would become an established global name.

Cartier has 269 stores throughout the world that sell the brand's high-end jewellery and timepieces. Retained by the Cartier family until 1964, it is now part of the Richemont Group and continues to be very successful, with earnings rebounding 16% last year following a 20% drop in 2017 due to the luxury market collapse.

Did you know that Louis Cartier was the first designer to popularise the wristwatch for men?

After hearing his lifelong friend and Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont bemoan the difficulty of recording flight times with a pocket watch, Louis Cartier set out to develop a more practical wristwatch. Cartier introduced their first men's wristwatch, the suitably titled "Santos" watch, in 1904. It was a risky move for the designer at the time, as society's upper crust believed the pocket watch to be a gentleman's clock, while ladies used wristwatches. On the other hand, Santos- Dumont's successes in aviation immediately boosted the appeal of the comfortable and practical wristwatch among men.

The Cartier Collection

In 1973, for the first time in its history, Cartier bought a piece made by their own firm half a century earlier. This was the beginning of putting together a selection of signed jewels, watches and accessories, showcasing Cartier’s style through history. With pieces dating back to 1860 through to the present, the ever-growing Cartier Collection currently contains over 3,000 pieces and constitutes the world’s largest collection of its kind.

The top three most popular pieces: 

Love Collection

The Love bracelet is perhaps the first piece that comes to mind. Aldo Cipullo designed this minimalist masterpiece in 1969, and it was his very first creation for Cartier. The chastity belt inspired the Love bracelet, which was created with the concept that "love symbols should indicate an eternal quality." Meant to be given as a gift from a loved one, it can only be removed using the accompanying screwdriver.

A screw head design and two modest, detachable screws decorate the bracelet. Instead of simply sliding the bracelet on the wearer's wrist, it must be split in two using a tiny screwdriver. The screwdriver is traditionally kept with the wearer's spouse so that they are the only ones who can open it. "Design needs to be part of function," Cipullo said. That is the key to achieving success. You always have a successful item when function and design are wedded together." The Cartier Love bracelet is so popular that New York City hospitals keep Love screw drivers on hand in their wards so that they may remove it from patients' wrists in the event of an emergency, according to Vogue.

Trinity

When talking about the top three pieces of Cartier jewellery, we'd be negligent if we didn't mention the Trinity de Cartier ring. Designed by Louis Cartier in 1924 for French artist, writer and filmmaker Jean Cocteau, it is one of his most daring and colourful designs. These rings are made up of three linked gold bands in various colour golds, typically rose, yellow and white gold. Popular among silver screen icons like Grace Kelly, Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, and Gary Cooper, the Cartier Trinity ring was viewed as a fluid and timeless extension of their style.

There are endless interpretations into the meaning of this interlocking ring. A popular notion, is that each ring depicts several romantic relationship phases, such as friendship, faithfulness, and true love. "Not only is the design now extremely contemporary, but it was also quite contemporary when it was developed," Cartier's artistic, image, and strategy director, Pierre Rainero, stated. Cartier also have a Trinity bracelet variation which has proved to be as popular as its ring counterpart. Later variations have included diamond-encrusted bands, thin bands and ceramic bands to keep up with ever-changing trends.  It's no surprise that Trinity de Cartier rings are among the brand's most enduring and popular jewellery collections.

Juste un Clou

Finally, Aldo Cipullo's Juste un Clou ("Just a Nail") bracelet is yet another masterpiece that has stood the test of time. Created in 1971 and now considered one of Cartier's top three pieces of jewellery. Cipullo excelled at making the ordinary extraordinary, and he was able to create the next famous Cartier masterpiece by reimagining a single nail. This bracelet is composed of a stylised bent nail that gently wraps around the wearer's wrist. "It's both practical and touchable, sleek and warm," Cipullo said of his jewellery. It can be worn 24 hours a day without requiring any clothing changes."

A Cartier Love Bangle

Sold for £16,000

A Cartier 'Trinity' three colour gold ring

Sold for £350

How do I value my Cartier jewellery?

Some Cartier jewellery is said to have sold for 74% of its original price! The ever-popular Juste un Clou and Love bracelets are well-known for their ability to retain their worth. The rarity, quality, and market demand of your item will all impact its future resale value. A professional jeweller's evaluation is the only method to know for sure how much your Cartier is worth.

Here at Dawsons, we provide free valuations. It's quick and easy - request yours here.