Cartier Love Collection 2010: There’s no doubt that I have been in love with LOVE for a long while.
No, not the kind of emotional love that first comes to mind… this is a style site after all. What I am referring to is the iconic modernity that comes in the red Cartier box, preferably with an engraved note card attached.
Cartier’s Love affair first began in the 1970’s with the yellow gold flat bangle designed by Aldo Cipullo. Punctuated with screws, the bracelet requires a simple turn of a screwdriver to undo therefore becoming a lover-to-lover symbol of commitment– a 70’s take on a chastity belt, if you will.
More than that, its timeless clean design works so well from day to night, from man to woman, that you may never want to separate from the bond of Love. From 70’s icons like Elizabeth Taylor and Ali McGraw to Eva Mendes today, the bracelet stands on its own as a modern symbol of romance and desire.
Eva Mendes wearing the Love bracelets
When it came time to select my wedding band I instantly gravitated to the contemporary classic white gold with white diamonds Love ring as something that I would want wear for eternity and be comfortable in its symbolic style appeal from lazy days to big nights.
The latest version of the iconic Cartier Love ring in white gold, blue and pink sapphires, purple spinels, amethysts, aquamarines.
Each year, Cartier renews its ties with Love and for its latest offerings; I was invited to preview the latest Love collection an elegant dinner at The Lion restaurant in New York. The event took place in the clandestine room hidden behind the secret door buried in the wall next the loo… a venue as provacative as the jewlery’s allure.
Cartier dinner at the Lion in New York
I had the pleasure of having dessert with Pierre Rainero, Cartier’s Director of Image, Style and Heritage. We about everything from French chic to the latest Love collection, which was also cleverly displayed in red box frames placed amongst the room’s eccentric decor along with an iPad presentation of the line and its heritage.
Love bracelet in pink gold with diamonds & black ceramic
Choosing a favorite piece from the new collection would be akin to a mother narrowing down a favorite child– all are amazing and stand alone in their own right. From the more opulent pieces like the Love ear pendants below to the more everyday pink gold, diamonds, black ceramic Love bracelet above, the Cartier Love Collection is designed to be worn and not to be tucked away in a jewelry box waiting for that special occasion. Just stunning.
Love ear pendants in white gold with diamonds
Product photos: Vincent Wulveryck © Cartier 2010
Eva Mendes photo: Dimitrios Kambonis for WireImage
Event photo: Julie Skarratt