A BEAUTIFUL WORLD

Bazaar India Editor NANDINI BHALLA has a special conversation with Creative Director al Cartier Prestige, JACQUELINE KARACHI, at the launch of Cartier's Beautés du Monde High Jewellery collection.

- NANDINI BHALLA

In the gardens of the residence of the XIX Duke of Alba in Madrid, Spain, models walked around a manicured paths in glittering jewels. Against this striking backdrop, Cartier held the grand launch of its high jewellery collection— the Beautés du Monde— rightfully termed in French as the ‘beauties of the world’. For each of these dazzling necklaces and rings were set with remarkable precious stones, scoured from the far corners of the Earth, polished to perfection, and carved with precision...artworks in their own right. Which is why, the Palacio de Liria, that was built in the 18th century, was just the right venue...the palace being home to iconic works by the likes of Albert Dürer, Titian, Rubens, marble figures, and bronzes from the Roman Empire to the neoclassical period... 

After a glistening show and a closed-door performance by the Black Eyed Peas, Bazaar India Editor Nandini Bhalla spoke with the Creative Director at Cartier Prestige, Jacqueline Karachi, about the new Beautés du Monde collection, Cartier’s continuing connection with India, and more...

Nandini Bhalla: Cartier has been famous for taking inspiration from flora and fauna. Tell us about this interest in nature...

Jacqueline Karachi: “Our first source of inspiration comes from nature because, in every age, nature has resided inside every artist. The stone itself is found in nature, so the best way to enhance it is to continue its relationship with its source. In fact, our iconic motif of the Panthère is directly inspired by nature... We like to interpret nature, but with our own vocabulary: we turn to civilisation, geometry, and abstraction, or sometimes, keep the piece more naturalistic.”