Cartier offers a modern twist on its distinctive peacock motif with sculpted bright green emeralds against pale blue chalcedony.
Whenever Jacques Cartier embarked on his many travels to India, his older brothers Louis and Pierre would entrust him with a number of tasks. Selling the latest Cartier jewellery to the country's wealthy maharajahs was a top priority, as was acquiring new business for the future, and finally, sourcing top-quality gemstones, which were abundant throughout the subcontinent.
On his return from the first voyage in 1911, the youngest Cartier brother had fulfilled all three, not insubstantial, tasks. In addition, he also imparted a bonus gift that would have a lasting influence on the maison's most exquisite creations to this day: an appreciation for colourful, hand-carved gemstones.
Up until then, prevailing jewellery trends in Europe leaned heavily towards bows, ribbons and florals on a colour palette that favoured order and sobriety. Stones were perfectly cut, polished and set. Cartier had famously been a pioneer in the use of platinum in jewellery-making, often combining it harmoniously with diamonds and natural pearls.
So the explosion of colour Jacques had met with in India, along with the bounteous variety and lavish sizes, was completely astonishing to him - and nothing at all like what he and his brothers had seen in the many books they owned on Indian jewellery design, where illustrations were often made in black-and-white.
Jacques Cartier, an intrepid globetrotter who added the exuberant spirit and heritage of Indian jewellery into his family maison's own evolution.
This story is from the May 2022 edition of Robb Report Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2022 edition of Robb Report Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BREAKING DOWN WALLS
Georgina Atkinson, managing partner of Origin Private Office, on the evolving landscape of high-end real estate.
Aged Gracefully
The Benromach 50 Years Old by Gordon & MacPhail is a delicious single malt, touched by love, passion and the human hand.
This Month's Feed
Only the best dining and drinking spots in Singapore.
Small-scale Thinking
Architect Todd Saunders wants to change the way we approach hospitality design from the ground up.
Todd Snyder Is Exactly Where He Wants To Be
\"Our whole goal is to present product in a way that guys get it and understand it, versus 'Here's some crazy aspirational brand-you go figure it out on your own'.\"
Depp Dive Into Sauvage
Johnny Depp on music, scents and the mystique of creativity.
Time For Poetry
Pascal Raffy on his love affair with the 202-year-old house of Bovet.
One of a Kind
The incomparable Lange 1 turns 30 this year and A. Lange & Söhne marks the occasion with its trademark understatement.
P For Personality
Enhance your swing, and inject your personal style while you're at it, with TaylorMade's new P-770 and P-7CB irons.
The Short-hop-adventure-craft Category Takes Off
Inside the flight deck of Pivotal's Blackfly eVTOL, an ultra-smart ultra-light with eight propellers, electric propulsion and no pilot's licence required.