Cartier celebrates 100 years in America with eye-catching exhibit
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We’ve all dreamed of being presented with that iconic red jewel box, a shiny bauble or classic timepiece from Cartier hiding inside begging to be worn or at least admired.
Now you can learn a lot more about the brand behind the red box at an exhibit at Cartier, Beverly Hills chronicling the company’s 100-year presence in America.
Such items as watches, tiaras, paperweights and gravity clocks are on display throughout the store along with the history of the piece and its provenance.
Sure, there are rows of blinding diamonds adorning a tiara belonging to Doris Duke, but there are also interesting historical pieces such as the gold Lunar Module model presented to the three astronauts who walked on the moon and the Duchess of Windsor’s opera glasses with Cartier’s signature panther as the handle.
The exhibit takes you from the Industrial Revolution of America to 1940s Hollywood and to modern-day collectors in the most glamorous setting -- if only high school history class were presented this way, I would have paid a lot more attention.
Cartier’s 100 years in America exhibit is on display in the Beverly Hills store until June 14. 370 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills 90210
Check back here Thursday for pictures and party coverage from Cartier’s 100th year in America anniversary party in Beverly Hills.
-- Melissa Magsaysay
Photos from top by Nick Welsh at Cartier:
Tiger lorgnette
Cartier Paris, special order, 1954 Gold Two navette-shaped emeralds (eyes)
Champlevé black enamel
The hinged fold-out lorgnette is concealed behind the tiger’s body.
Made on special order for the Duchess of Windsor
Headband
Cartier New York, 1924
Platinum
A natural pearl weighing about 51 grains
Round old-cut diamonds, two pear-shaped diamonds
Provenance: the estate of Doris Duke
Lunar Module Model Cartier Paris, 1969
Yellow gold, white gold
Lacquer
Red, white and blue enamel
Note: Three individual 18 karat gold LM models were made in 1969 by the jeweler Cartier in Paris on behalf of Le Figaro newspaper and presented to the three Apollo 11 astronauts during their post-flight tour in Paris.
This example was presented to Michael Collins.
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