You should have discovered long ago that cheetahs are an element that often appears in Cartiers works and advertisements. The cheetah can be said to be a representative totem of Cartier. Why does Cartier like cheetahs so much? I will introduce it in detail today. The origin of Cartier and cheetah.
The relationship between Cartier and cheetahs began in 1914, when Cartier presented a cheetah pattern on a watch for the first time. Onyx and diamonds condense the beauty of nature, and black and white are interlaced, creating a precedent for spotted pattern jewelry, heralding the coming of the Art Deco trend that advocates contrast. In the same year, Louis Cartier commissioned illustrator George Barbier to design an invitation card with the theme of "Lady and the Cheetah". Georges Barbier used an elegant design from the late Belle Epoque to depict a young woman wearing a pleated gown by Paul Poiret while a cheetah crouched over her. At feet.
"The Lady and the Leopard" invitation card/Georges Barbier, 1914
In the same year, the black and white leopard pattern became one of Cartiers decorative elements and appeared on two womens watches designed in 1914 and 1915. Two years later, Jeanne Toussaint, who was already in close contact with Louis Cartier, took the lead in purchasing a cheetah pattern dressing box set with gems. At that time, the cheetah was presented in a clear and realistic form, but it was only a flat pattern. It was almost thirty years later that the cheetah appeared in front of the world in its complete three-dimensional posture.
Jane Toussaint and Louis Cartier met at the beginning of the First World War, and she entered Cartier in 1933.Ya, was appointed as the Director of High Jewelry. These two points in time became the key to the creation process of Cartier Cheetah. Jeanne Toussaints innate imagination and extremely free and independent character made her relatives and friends nickname her "Ms. Cheetah". The floor of her Paris apartment is decorated with magnificent cheetah skin rugs, showing the hostesss love for this precious fur.
Ms. Jeanne Toussaint (1887-1976), Creative Director of Cartier High Jewelry
Bringing life to the cheetah
Paris, 13 Rue de la Paix, 1949. Standing proudly atop a brilliant 152.35 carat sapphire cabochon almost as big as a ping pong ball is a diamond-encrusted cheetah, its fur dotted with sapphire cabochon spots. The mystery shopper who customized this treasure and her husband looked at the jewelry with admiration. Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s director of high jewelry, stood opposite them and admired their masterpiece together. Jeanne Toussaint infused this cheetah with Full of vitality. And this lady who is intoxicated with this jewelry is the Duchess of Windsor - the legendary lady who caused a turmoil in the British throne in 1936. The reaction of the Duchess of Windsor is undoubtedly the best recognition of this art treasure.
"Cheetah" brooch/Cartier, Paris, 1949
Duchess of Windsor (1896-1986)
At almost the same time a year ago, the two women first met to discuss the cheetah idea. At that time, the Duchess of Windsor had just purchased a 116.75-carat rectangular emerald. Zhen· Toussaint designed a brooch for this emerald: a cheetah made of gold sits above the gem, with its body dotted with black enamel spots.
The Duchess and her husband, the former King Edward VIII of England, both loved this design. However, a new challenge arose: to design a cheetah fully encrusted with rare gemstones, the inlay method and craftsmanship must vividly present the felines unique soft muscles and posture. This work will create a historical monument for the profound relationship between Cartier and cheetahs.
Left/The Duchess of Windsor (1896-1986); Right/The Duke of Windsor (1894-1972)
Despite Jeanne Toussaints passion for designing extraordinary jewelry, and the Duchess of Windsors strong desire to wear such extraordinary treasures, without the contribution of artist and designer Peter Lemarchand , this cheetah full of artistic and life tension was not enough to be realized in 1949.
Peter Le Marchand has worked at Cartier since 1927. In the years after the Second World War, Mr. Le Marchant revolutionized the design of animal jewelry. He completely abandoned the traditional formal design concept and used the streamlined design of the Art Deco era to give the cheetah a three-dimensional shape. His unique and natural drawings are shaped by skilled jewelry craftsmen and inlay craftsmen, transforming flat depictions into three-dimensional shapes.
In 1952, the Duchess of Windsor ordered a new cheetah jewelry set with onyx and diamonds. This time, Cartiers talented designers pushed the design into a new field. The cheetah was designed as a movable bracelet. It usually lies flat in the jewelry box, but when you wear it, it shows incredible softness and vividness. Jumping on the Duchesss wrist.
Cartier Leopard Series, a glimpse of the jewelry workshop
Since then, the flexible cheetah has become a representative animal and one of the most recognizable Cartier symbols. Sometimes fierce, sometimes proud, sometimes charming, the cheetah transcends time and changing fashion trends. She changes with the changing times and moods, reflecting the contemporary spirit. Today, it is still one of the representative totems respected by Cartier.
Cartier has countless cheetah designs in its history. This year, Cartier has launched a new cheetah series. Pictographic patterns, geometric shapes, lively, soft, wild, sexy, fierce and dynamic. The cheetahs ever-changing appearance is eye-catching, embodying a bold, unrestrained, sophisticated and sophisticated jewelry style. The 56-piece series showcases contemporary inspiration with the perfect cheetah.
Exquisite and gorgeous style ring, gold hollow shape, outlines the elegance and pride of the cheetah. The sense of delicate elegance dances between the knuckles, making your heart flutter. Op Art style honeycomb shape. The body and tail of the cheetah disappear, leaving only spots of diamonds and onyx to form a jewelry pattern, decorating a tribal bracelet. The jewelry making skills are exquisite and draw infinite creative inspiration from Cartier’s totem beast.
Charming
The Cartier cheetah is wild and rebellious, stubborn and rebellious.
Locked jaw, streamlined shape, extremely fierce: she bites, with a sharp look, looking straight ahead, and the uniquely shaped pendant sprays golden water droplets.
18K gold necklace, black lacquer, onyx, garnet, tsavorite, diamond
White 18K gold necklace, onyx, garnet, emerald, diamond
Elegant and slender
The cheetah stretches its body, slender and elegant. The ring wraps around the finger and fits the knuckle, exuding charm and chicness. The body is made of 18K gold or diamond and onyx spots, with impeccable shape and clear and toned muscle structure.
18K gold ring, black lacquer, onyx, tsavorite garnet
White 18K gold ring, onyx, emerald, diamond
Charm Game
Soft, smooth, playful and unruly, the cheetah coils around in a circle, its lively and active paws showing off its soft grace.
The cheetah displays its charm, embracing and playing with a multi-faceted citrine. The body of the gemstone is light and seems to be there but not there.
18K gold ring, black lacquer, onyx, tsavorite garnet
White 18K gold ring, onyx, black lacquer, emerald, diamond
18K gold necklace, onyx, black lacquer, citrine, tsavorite garnet, diamond
Unprecedented wildness
Just by looking at the famous leopard print, you can tell at a glance that the cheetah has turned into a curved bracelet. Polygonal onyx, paired with paved dazzling diamonds, creates a sharp contrast and reproduces jewelry spots. Regular circles of green chalcedony rings glow with fresh colors, creating a perfect illusion, showing the exotic style of the cheetah and playing a unique rhythm.
18K white gold bracelet, onyx, black lacquer, chrysoprase, diamonds
Platinum necklace, cultured pearls, onyx, emerald, diamond
Different
This is an unprecedented technology. The ring is carved from solid K gold without any welding, and the leopards head pops out.
Hollow 18K gold, geometric cut, seamless shape, a pair of eyes shining with a breathtaking light. This is how extraordinary jewelry is born. The ring fits perfectly on the knuckle and creates a dazzling masterpiece on the skin.
18K gold ring, onyx, tsavorite garnet
White 18K gold ring, onyx, emerald, diamond
Exclusive enjoyment
The cheetah rules the world with a kingly demeanor. Her totem statue rises above the ring bracelet, and the cylindrical cut onyx outlines the halo around her body, as if lying on the crystal stone. The shining concave and convex squares form an arch, creating a magical masterpiece of jewelry.
White 18K gold bracelet, onyx, emerald, diamond
White 18K gold necklace, crystal, onyx, diamond
