This spring, the Victoria and Albert Museum is opening the doors of its Sainsbury Gallery to unveil the UK’s first major Cartier exhibition in nearly three decades. Running from April 12 to November 16, Cartier is a sparkling deep-dive into one of the most legendary names in luxury. Think 350 objets of pure opulence – a kaleidoscope of jewels, watches and one-of-a-kind creations spanning more than a century of design mastery.
It isn’t just about diamonds – though there are plenty of those. It’s about how a Parisian family jeweller managed to become the jeweller of kings, queens, maharajas and movie stars. A story that begins with Louis-François Cartier and blooms under his ambitious grandsons – Louis, Pierre and Jacques – who, at the turn of the 20th century, built a glittering global empire stretching from Paris to New York and, crucially, London, where the exhibition is taking place.
A true feast for the senses, thanks in no small part to a dreamscape scenography by architect Asif Khan MBE, the display is something you won’t want to miss, and that you definitely won’t forget either. “Cartier’s pieces are suspended in light, time and sound,” Khan says. “I wanted history to breathe and the future to linger.” And linger it does – across a journey that explores Cartier’s creative DNA, its technical alchemy and its visionary self-branding across eras, cultures and continents.
Among the many jewels to covet: the pink-hued Williamson Diamond brooch, commissioned for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953; Grace Kelly’s dazzling engagement ring, worn in her final film before becoming Princess of Monaco; and the iconic Crash watch, born in Swinging London and still breaking rules today. Oh, and Rihanna’s 2016 W magazine tiara moment? That’s in there too.
But Cartier is as much about storytelling as it is about sparkle. From Indian-influenced bazubands to the decadent geometry of Art Deco, each piece tells a tale of artistic exchange, royal patronage and fearless reinvention. There’s also an entire chapter devoted to Cartier’s most potent muse: the panther. So when you visit, expect to see how this feline icon slinked its way from early 20th-century timepieces to diamond-studded bracelets worthy of a Bond villainess.
Don’t miss the tiara finale either, where shimmering diadems form a celestial crescendo – from the Scroll Tiara worn at Elizabeth II’s coronation to the never-before-exhibited Opal Tiara commissioned by Mary Cavendish.
Cartier at the V&A is a lot more than an exhibition. It’s an experience – one that’ll leave you breathless, bewitched and perhaps with a sudden urge to drape yourself in diamonds. Run, don’t walk. Your royal fantasy awaits.
Photography courtesy of Cartier.
