Leading the Artisans of Cartier's Savoir-Faire

The hidden world of Cartier's workshops is where Alexa Abitbol and her team of artisans bring alluring creations to life

- Lynette Ow

In the heart of Paris, tucked away in a discreet building, artisans come together to create the extraordinary jewels that define Cartier’s legacy. This is the sacred sanctuary of Cartier’s high jewellery workshops where masterpieces are born from the meticulous hands of its artisans.

Orchestrating this is Alexa Abitbol, director of Cartier High Jewellery Workshops, who is driven by a desire to understand and be close to the products she works with. She transitioned into the world of luxury jewellery from an industrial background in the automotive industry. “When Cartier called me, it was evident to me that I should work for this maison,” she says, recalling the excitement she felt over a decade ago when she first joined Cartier. Her grandfather’s influence, a watchmaker and jeweller, set the stage for her passion.

With a background in engineering and a love for traditional craftsmanship, Abitbol immersed herself in the technical aspects of jewellery making when she joined Cartier, even attending evening classes at a renowned public school in France to learn the craft. “I spent two years trying to learn about jewellery and how to do it,” she explains. “I passed my exam to become a jeweller, but I still cannot make a ring!” Despite her modesty, her deep understanding of the craft reflects an ambition to bridge the gap between innovation and heritage.