Cartier - the bee's knees

[shadow]

In my opinion it is the top jewellery brand. It is truly contemporary, Cartier designs are perfectly wearable in most occasions. Truly understated but never simple or boring. Every piece becomes a classic, so your ring of 20 years ago looks gorgeous today. I think that Cartier is the fashion equivalent of Mies van der Rohe's "less is more". I loooove it. Like a Kelly bag, or a Chanel nr 5 bottle, simply beautiful and perfect.

 

[PrinceOfCats]

To me, Cartier is an anachronism - that kind of luxury is rooted in an aristocracy which no longer exists. It's about 'rich b*tchs' and 'old gold', croc skin and diamonds. Mies van der Rohe's design on the other hand, is (relatively) timeless and beautiful...

 

[shadow]

I beg to differ...the rolling ring (trinity ring) designed by Jean Cocteau is still perfect! No need to be an aristocrat to wear it! The love bracelet, the tank watch in its many versions...it is the opposite of bling bling and nouveau riche. Then again, chacun a son goût.

 

[Arksiel]

whenever I hear Cartier, for some reason I get a vision of Glen Close as Creulla De Vil in my head, wearing some elaborate yet evil looking ballgown, gloves that go to the elbow, and 'dripping' in diamonds - all the while holding one of those long cigarette holders and purring "dahhhhhling" with an evil cackle to follow.

but joking aside, I think that -every- jeweller makes both classic and timeless pieces, as well as gaudy/trendy pieces. I don't think that Cartier, Tiffanys, Birks, or any other high profile Jeweller has a monopoly on this, and a lot of it is either you like a design that is only made by one of them due to copyright or such, or you have a brand loyalty that has been ingrained in you for some other reason....often the stigma associated with the brand. Jewellery should be less status symbol, and more art in my opinion...but its just that, an opinion. so please don't freak out on me

 

[PrinceOfCats]

I beg to differ...the rolling ring (trinity ring) designed by Jean Cocteau is still perfect! No need to be an aristocrat to wear it! The love bracelet, the tank watch in its many versions...it is the opposite of bling bling and nouveau riche. Then again, chacun a son goût.

Well as you say. To mon gout the mass production of such things, the history of a luxury company like Cartier ruins the beauty of the design itself if there is any. Agreeing with the beliefs of the designer is central to appreciating the design, to me and in my eyes ancien riche is far more reprehensible than new money.

 

[Hipkitten]

...the history of a luxury company like Cartier ruins the beauty of the design itself if there is any. Agreeing with the beliefs of the designer is central to appreciating the design...

I couldn't agree more; "vote with your wallet" is what I always say. However, I am completely uninformed as to Cartier's past. If you wouldn't mind enlightening me, PrinceOfCats, I'd be ever so grateful. My mom loves her Cartier watches and even though I may not get her to ditch them, she may not buy more in the future (if I have anything to say about it).

 

[MJCouture]

I wish I was old enough to wear Cartier ten years ago, because today the brand, the watches mainly, have become far to common. I see dozens of people wearing tanks every day, it has totally diminished my interest in the company.

 

[PrinceOfCats]

I couldn't agree more; "vote with your wallet" is what I always say. However, I am completely uninformed as to Cartier's past. If you wouldn't mind enlightening me, PrinceOfCats, I'd be ever so grateful. My mom loves her Cartier watches and even though I may not get her to ditch them, she may not buy more in the future (if I have anything to say about it).

I don't actually know all that much about Cartier's history. Louis Vuitton, for example, was complicit in the Nazi occupation but I don't know anything like that about Cartier. It's mainly the fact that high fashion/jewellery/etc all of those trades during the 1900s were based on the wealth of elites whose wealth in turn was based on imperialism. It's a kind of beauty best left in the past, in my opinion...

 

[sohoxchic]

i don't think cartier is anything special. I'm not too fond of their jewelry. I prefer bvglari or lesser known designers.

 

[Diorling]

I love Cartier, I don't know why but it is my favorite jeweler. I think Cartier is synonymous with old money, extreme glamor, and above all exceptional taste. I think Cartier is still very exclusive, it is Cartier, the name itself scares people away who might not be able to afford it when they very well might. Cartier barely advertises too which makes it even more exclusive it's like they're saying "we dont need your money."

Bulgari is far more common than Cartier, when Lil Kim is rapping about Bulgari you know you've reached the pinnacle of exposure. Plus Bulgari fragrance is sold at Hechts...right between the Arden and Clinique...

 

[shadow]

Bulgari was THE jewellery brand of the 80ies in Spain, where new money and glitter in abundance was the rule. Cartier watches were the first ones to be faked, back in the late 70ies . Pomellato is very 90ies, again its use of big coloured semi-precious stones has set a trend.

Cartier does not create or follow trends, it sets a style which is immediately copied "ad nauseam".

 

[beaverhausen]

I love Cartier. I have a Trinity ring, a 21 watch and a Panthere watch. I think all those designs are classic, chic, timeless and as modern today as they were when they were designed. But as my fellow TFS-er already said, chacun a son goût.

 

[travis_nw8]

i thought the watches were common too but today i wandered into the cartier room in harrods and ended up walking with a slim elegant square santos dumont watch in rose gold. wasn't really expecting to spend £5700 but fell for it. its the newest range and hasn't been overdone or faked yet which is always an advantage.

 

[rhiannonmars]

Cartier WAS art deco defined! The pieces from that period were unbelievable. I saw a lot of their old jewels at the Art Deco Exhibition in San Francisco.

Because their contribution to that era, they will always be held high in my regard.

 

[eternitygoddess]

I love Cartier, I don't know why but it is my favorite jeweler. I think Cartier is synonymous with old money, extreme glamor, and above all exceptional taste. I think Cartier is still very exclusive, it is Cartier, the name itself scares people away who might not be able to afford it when they very well might. Cartier barely advertises too which makes it even more exclusive it's like they're saying "we dont need your money."

You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[shadow]

i thought the watches were common too but today i wandered into the cartier room in harrods and ended up walking with a slim elegant square santos dumont watch in rose gold. wasn't really expecting to spend £5700 but fell for it. its the newest range and hasn't been overdone or faked yet which is always an advantage.

You lucky devil! It is a GORGEOUS WATCH! Enjoy it

 

[sbbbjm]

i see my tank francaise everywhere, so i'll agree with the watches being a bit widespread.

but hey it's a beautiful timeless looking watch. i remember seeing one for the first time 6 or 7 years before i received mine, and said to myself THAT's the watch i want. it's perfect and exactly what i want in a watch design. i didn't know anything about the brand or cost back then, but the fact that through my finnicky changing tastes i've still managed to like my cartier, i think, says something about its timelessness.

 

[shadow]

I loooove my Paris ring in white gold. Moreover, when it gets scratched, I have it re-polished and recoated in rhodium, courtesy of Cartier! Merçi mille fois!!

 

[laboheme]

*bumping*

 

[tifa]

Not for me even if I could afford it.