New Cactus de Cartier poses no thorns indeed
I am a fan of Collection Privée Cartier Paris watches and the current Mrs MTF loves Panthère de Cartier jewelry. So, I always keep an eye on what the staid House of Cartier does next. Imagine my amusement with the latest Cactus de Cartier collection – what cheekiness – what audacity – what a sense of humour!
Cactus de Cartier
Taking inspiration from Nature’s Great Designer, Cartier highlights the intrinsic beauty of mysterious thorny plants that we dare not touch, with distinctive sculptural pieces.
Desert Bloom
A resilient survivor of the desert, withstanding freezing nights and arid days, redolent with patterns set before time began, the cactus is an architectural marvel. Cartier has succeeded in exposing the primal beauty that emerge from a sun-baked landscape.
At dawn, the dew drops magnify the geometrical patterns of flowers that only bloom at night. Their shorlived existence is immortalised by Cartier using the permanence of gemstones with three thema:
A Flower without Spikes
Flower without Spikes
Soft cactus shapes sprinkled with zesty, succulent, gemstone flowers in emerald, chrysoprase or carnelian.
A Flower without Spikes Ring
Cactus de Cartier ring, 18-carat yellow gold, emeralds, carnelians, set with a brilliant-cut diamond.
A Flower without Spikes Earrings
Cactus de Cartier earrings, 18-carat yellow gold, emeralds, carnelians, each set with 11 brilliant-cut diamonds.
A Flower without Spikes Bracelet
Cactus de Cartier bracelet, 18-carat yellow gold, chrysoprases, emeralds, carnelians, set with 8 brilliant-cut diamonds.
A Flower without Spikes Bracelet
Cactus de Cartier bracelet, 18-carat yellow gold, emeralds, set with 204 brilliant-cut diamonds.
A Flower without Spikes necklace
Cactus de Cartier necklace, 18-carat yellow gold, emeralds, set with 204 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Desert Beauty
Desert Beauty
Cartier plays with gold domes and geometric structures of voluptuous volumes but resplendent with precious dewdrops, aureoles of brilliant facets in lapis or diamonds.
Desert Beauty ring
Cactus de Cartier ring, 18-carat yellow gold, lapis lazuli, set with 55 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Desert Beauty bracelet
Cactus de Cartier bracelet, 18-carat yellow gold, lapis lazuli, set with 146 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Desert Beauty necklace
Cactus de Cartier necklace, 18-carat yellow gold, lapis lazuli, set with 61 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Rebellious Flower
Rebellious Flower
It’s not just about gemstones with Cartier. Here the goldsmith gets to show off his artistry to create blooms in gold, barely kissed by rare diamonds that highlight undulating ripples and twists. Open work and granulation are ancient techniques mastered by Cartier.
Rebellious Flower ring
Cactus de Cartier ring, 18-carat yellow gold, set with 12 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Rebellious Flower earrings
Cactus de Cartier earrings, 18-carat yellow gold, each set with 12 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Rebellious Flower ring
Cactus de Cartier ring, 18-carat yellow gold, set with 6 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Rebellious Flower pendant
Cactus de Cartier pendant, 18-carat yellow gold, set with 6 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Conclusion
The Cactus de Cartier collection is a refreshing, playful interpretation of Nature’s Deserts without any thorny issues; much in keeping with Cartier’s heritage of inspiration by Flora and Fauna.
Check it out at your friendly neighbourhood Cartier Boutique.
Tell them AlphaLuxe sent you!
Author’s Biography: Melvyn Teillol-Foo (MTF)
Dr Melvyn Teillol-Foo is a contributor on AlphaLuxe web-zine.
He is also a moderator on PuristSPro.com horology discussion fora. He blends his scientific medical objectivity from the pharmaceutical industry with purist passion, in his musings about watches, travel, wine, food and other epicurean delights.
His travelog ‘Lazing’ and feasting ‘Grazing’ series of articles have now passed into “mythic legend” on the original ‘ThePuristS.com’ website. Those were the halcyon days when he was “rich and famous” that he remembers with bittersweet fondness.
Dr Teillol-Foo is a quoted enthusiast on the watch industry, appearing in feature articles and interviews by Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, Sunday Times (London), Chronos (Japan), Citizen Hedonist (France) and other publications. He has authored articles for magazines like International Watch (iW) – both U.S. & Chinese editions, ICON (Singapore), August Man (Singapore), Comfort (China) and The Watch (Hong Kong).