By Maria Doulton in London
Cartier has long been associated with creating some of the world's finest diamond jewellery for some of the world's most legendary women, including Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and, more recently, Kate Middleton.
So what better way to celebrate the many milestones in a woman's life than with a piece of jewellery from Cartier? Whether it's graduating from university, getting engaged, celebrating the birth of a child or just reaffirming your love for one another, trust Cartier to come through with a range of brilliant diamond proposals steeped in symbolism, style and sparkle.
The original Trinity de Cartier collection, designed by Louis Cartier in 1924, has not lost an ounce of its appeal, with its three bands of intertwined gold and heartfelt message: white gold for friendship, rose for love and yellow for fidelity. If you're looking for a memorable present to mark a graduation or a 21st birthday, a piece of Cartier Trinity jewellery is a great starting point.
There are many pieces in the Trinity collection that will appeal to fashion-conscious twenty-somethings. Feminine, delicate and easy to wear, the Sweet Trinity pendant with three intertwined hearts in yellow gold, rose gold and grey gold, pavéd with white diamonds, is the perfect introduction to Cartier. The Trinity Sauvage ring and bracelet, meanwhile, are a cool interpretation of the classic Trinity collection, with a white gold band pavéd with diamonds, a yellow gold band with black lacquer spots, reminiscent of the iconic panther, and a pink gold band engraved with Cartier.
When Louis Cartier introduced his combination of platinum with diamonds into high jewellery at the end of the 19th century, he was on to an impeccably elegant match, which works beautifully in engagement and wedding settings. For grooms facing the prospect of having to choose an engagement ring, Cartier proposes a selection of diamond rings imbued with the inimitable spirit of the maison.
The C de Cartier Solitaire engagement ring plays with the brand's initial, which is ingeniously adapted as a setting for the brilliant-cut diamond in the centre, escorted by smaller brilliant-cut diamonds. For a more traditional look, the Cartier Solitaire Ballerine engagement ring sparkles with intense diamonds on the band surrounding the high-voltage brilliant-cut diamond solitaire.
In a more contemporary spirit, the Love collection, which was first created in the 1970s and features the iconic Cartier screws, also caters to brides. The Love Solitaire ring in white gold with a brilliant-cut diamond couldn't be more Cartier.
Cartier wedding bands are also enhanced with diamonds, from the simple Love ring, set with a single diamond, to the fully pavéd white gold Maillon Panthère de Cartier band.
Beyond celebrating a wedding, Cartier makes jewellery with rich symbolic appeal, like the delightful necklace with interlocking rings from the Love collection. Resembling miniature handcuffs covered in diamonds, the double rings are a strong statement about your feelings towards one another and are also featured on the Love drop earrings and the Love double ring.
Or celebrate that special birthday with a piece of jewellery that reflects her unique personality - Cartier has many design classics that have been given a new lease of life in recent years. The Juste un Clou bracelet, another winning design from the 1970s, appears with a mantle of white diamonds without losing an inch of its rebellious character. A classic Trinity bracelet smothered in 2,727 diamonds and with extra-large proportions is failsafe way of reminding her how special she is.
And cat lovers beware: Cartier's iconic panther turned 100 this year and has made a spectacular comeback in a new collection of Panthère jewellery, including this amazing white gold necklace with a diamond panther with emerald eyes holding a tassel in his jaws. Or what about the geometric Panthère de Cartier bracelet in white gold, 661 brilliant-cut diamonds, black lacquer, onyx and chrysoprase?
Cartier is proud of its Parisian heritage and deploys an enormous amount of artistry and style in its high-end Nouvelle Vague collection. The voluptuous curves and arabesque motifs of the Nouvelle Vague ring, pavéd entirely with diamonds and set with a dazzling brilliant-cut diamond in the centre, is bound to turn a special occasion into an unforgettable one.
