foversta provides an exclusive tour of Cartier's presence at the 2014 Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris. His report highlights the brand's 'Royal Collection' of High Jewelry, showcasing exquisite gems and inspired designs. The post also features historical Cartier pieces, offering a comprehensive look at the brand's heritage and contemporary artistry.
I attended this evening the inauguration cocktail of the 2014 Biennale des Antiquaires. This prestigious event which gathers the most famous antiquaries in the world at the Grand Palais in Paris also offers the opportunity to the main High Jewelry houses to unveil their latest collections. And among them, Cartier.
The new High Jewelry collection from Cartier is a true fireworks show whose name is Royal Collection. Made of four lines (Design as king, Worldly stones, Gems and Pearls, Revealed stones), this collection highlights the quality of the gems thanks to the inspired design and the perfect result.
I propose you to discover the Cartier booth and some of these jewelry creations.
The Grand Palais remains one of the most beautiful sceneries in the world for this kind of event:
Approaching the Cartier booth:
The booth was crowded like a Metro station at 6pm but well, there was a reward after the effort: the ability to observe the charming gems and stones...
This is a superb white gold bracelet with diamonds and onyx. The eyes of the Panther are emeralds:
The Cartier Panther is carved on black jade, this necklace is pure beauty thanks to the contrast between black and white (onyx and diamonds):
I couldn't miss the opportunity to shoot this pocket watch Grande Complication from 1967. Its case is made of yellow gold while the bezel uses blue enamel:
The Amethyst necklace below was ordered by the Duchess of Marlborough:
This is a very unusual clock which uses magnetism to tell the time. Cartier produced at the end of the 1920s several similar clocks which can be can considered as half-mysterious.
The red stones are rubies from Mozambique:
The shape of this pendant watch is inspired by an Easter Egg:
The thin layers of mother of pearls of these boxes are really eye-catching. They embody a feeling of finesse and of perfect craftsmanship:
The Cartier Panther is still present. No, I'm wrong. It is actually more and more present and I love this.
This bird looks almost alive... about to fly away!
If you carefully look at this Panther, you will notice that it is made of micro-mosaic. Patience and dexterity are required to assemble such three-dimensional pattern:
The most charming Panther of the booth:
And the most impressive one... carved on an zebra agate gem:
This opal has an almost perfect shape and its colours are awesome:
The Cartier bestiary also includes some reptiles!
Even if I am not a jewelry specialist, I never miss to pay a visit to the Biennale. It is one of the very rare chances to be able to closely observe these incredible pieces which symbolize the cross-roads between the skills of the human hands and the beauty of the gems. The Biennale takes place at the grand Palais till the 21st of September so if you like jewels and gems (and I don't even mention the antiques), don't hesitate to visit it!
Thanks a lot to Cartier for the invitation.
Fr.Xavier
This message has been edited by foversta on 2014-09-10 15:20:38 
