Cartier at the V&A: Jewels Fit for Royalty

Walking into the Cartier exhibition at the V&A felt a bit like stepping into Aladdin’s cave. Everywhere you turned there were tiaras, necklaces, and bracelets glittering under the lights — pieces made not just for glamour, but for power, prestige, and the most high-profile occasions.

Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier. What began as a small family workshop quickly grew into one of the most celebrated jewellery houses in the world. By the early 20th century, they were known as the “jeweller of kings, king of jewellers,” supplying royalty and aristocracy with designs that pushed boundaries. From their Paris headquarters, they soon expanded to London and New York, cementing their name as the jeweller of choice for the elite.

What struck me at the exhibition was how much of the display came on loan from the royal family. There were tiaras once worn by the Queen Mother, necklaces seen on Princess Margaret, and dazzling brooches with histories that trace back through generations of monarchs. It made clear just how closely Cartier’s story is intertwined with the British royal family — and how these jewels are not just ornaments, but symbols of status, duty, and dynasty.

The artistry was breathtaking: the video on how the panther was designed, carved from wax and how the stones are set, was a real highlight of the exhibition for me The stones were cut with extraordinary precision, there were designs that balanced elegance with extravagance, and craftsmanship that took months — sometimes years — to complete. It’s jewellery designed for ballrooms, coronations, and official portraits.

And yet, as dazzling as it was, I couldn’t help but feel a certain distance. These are not jewels for everyday life. They are not even jewels for special occasions as most of us know them. They belong to a different world entirely — a world of crowns and palaces.

For me, jewellery is about something else. It’s about sentiment and connection. It might be a ring that marks a milestone, a necklace that reminds you of a holiday, or a bangle linked to your favourite place on the Norfolk coast. These are jewels to be worn and lived with — pieces that collect memories as much as they sparkle.

That’s what I took away from the Cartier exhibition: a renewed admiration for the skill, the history, and the grandeur of jewellery at the very highest level. But also a reminder that jewellery’s real magic lies in the everyday stories we attach to it.

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