V&A TO OPEN FIRST MAJOR EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO CARTIER JEWELS AND WATCHES

words by NATALIE GAL

Opening on 12th April 2025, the V&A will stage the UK’s first major exhibition in almost 30 years dedicated to Cartier jewels and watches, exploring how the Maison became an unparalleled force in the jewellery and watch world. Tickets have been released today.

Featuring more than 350 objects, the exhibition will chart the evolution of the house’s legacy of art, design and craftsmanship since the turn of the 20th century. It was at that point that the three grandsons of founder Louis-François set out to create the first globally recognised jewellery house, establishing branches in Paris, London and New York. With an enviable client list of royalty and aristocracy, Cartier became known as ‘the jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers’ and later broadened its appeal thanks to the devotion of leading creatives from the worlds of cinema, music and fashion.

The exhibition will include precious jewels and showstopping objects, historic gemstones, iconic watches and clocks from the V&A and Cartier Collection, as well as previously unseen drawings from the V&A and Cartier archives, together with works lent by His Majesty The King from the Royal Collection, major UK and international museums, and private collections.

The exhibition design is led by British architect and artist Asif Khan MBE, and exhibition curators Helen Molesworth and Rachel Garrahan. According to them, “Cartier is one of the most famous jewellery houses in the world. This exhibition will explore how Louis, Pierre and Jacques Cartier, together with their father Alfred, adopted a strategy of original design, exceptional craftsmanship and international expansion that transformed the Parisian family jeweller into a household name. We are excited to be able to share with visitors some of Cartier’s most famous creations as well as revealing previously unseen objects and archive material that further enriches our understanding of a jewellery house that continues to influence the way we adorn ourselves today.”

Cartier became a master of these splendid jewels at a time when high society wore them to the most glittering events in the social calendar. Although today few occasions require a tiara, they remain a pinnacle of glamour, romance and artistry, and some of Cartier’s finest creations. The exhibition will cast a light on the history of Cartier London and will culminate in a spectacular display of such unique tiaras.