When Cartier hand-delivered an invitation for a formal Viennese ball, the answer was obviously, yes. The house hosted VIP clients and press from around the world in Vienna last week for the unveiling of its lavish Nature Sauvage high jewelry collection. One minute it felt like we’d stepped back time watching dozens dance a Viennese waltz (white gloves, tails and all) alongside the symphony orchestra in a grand ballroom, while moments later the sultry young English singer Raye performed in a staged nightclub.
That juxtaposition was reflected in the jewelry, which put a spotlight on the house’s iconic animals but in distinctly contemporary, playful new ways. “We wanted to express the soul of the animal,” says Jacqueline Karachi, director of high jewelry creation. “We considered the facial expressions, the way the body moves, and imagined the animals in different ways.
” Those included a striking diamond encrusted panther with sapphire spots, which stretched across the top of the hand in an innovative connected bracelet and ring design, to subtle animal print references in a contouring black onyx and diamond collar with a 6.25 carat juicy pink rubellite drop. For true collectors, the reveal of Cartier’s high jewelry is akin to a highly anticipated artist’s show.
Some might say even better because you can wear the jewelry on the town or at the ball! The house’s creative team spent more than two years searching for rare stones (like a 22-carat dreamy antique Ceylo.