In its flagship boutique in Al Faisaliyah, Cartier unveiled an exhibition of more than 150 High Jewellery creations, including 30 historic Cartier pieces exhibited for the first time in the Middle East, presented in a magical scenography featuring a flower garden. The exhibition ran from 18th to 27th of March 2021, highlighting exceptional jewellery, timepieces and accessories, as a tribute to the style and creativity of the Maison.
The collection exhibition symbolizes Cartier’s emblematic Panthère continuing her journey across Saudi Arabia, as the Maison continues to expand its independent operations in the Kingdom. Whilst the iconic Panthère begins her journey in Place Vendome in Paris, last year she travelled to the stunning surrounds of Al Ula for ‘A New Dawn’, a film dedicated to the holy month of Ramadan. This month, she reaches a new destination in the Kingdom, as one of Cartier’s first-ever panther motif pieces, a Panthère pendant-watch (1920), went on display in the heart of Riyadh.
The High Jewellery event celebrated the city of Riyadh, where the Maison internalized all its boutiques more than 3 years ago and has since celebrated multiple milestones in the Kingdome, the most recent being the opening of the Al Faisaliyah flagship boutique in September 2020. Throughout these exceptional times, the Maison continues its efforts to create special and precious moments to celebrate with the Saudi clients.
“We are proud to present this stunning showcase of creations from the Cartier Collection for the first time in Saudi Arabia, sharing more than 170 years of history, style and creativity and reaffirming the long and rich connection between Cartier and the Arabian Gulf. Today, it is our responsibility and privilege to support the dynamic cultural heritage and ecosystem in the Kingdom, and proudly invite the Saudi public to discover the diverse universe of Cartier,” said Kalid Lanssari, Managing Director of Cartier Saudi Arabia.
Since Jacques Cartier’s visit to the Gulf in 1912, inspiration from the arts and heritage of the Arab world has been at the heart of Cartier’s style and creative expression. Reflecting the long-standing relationship between the Maison and the region, the specially curated exhibition featured pieces inspired by Islam and the Middle East, Ancient Egypt, India, and Asia. These include a rose and yellow gold diamond Hand of Fatima clip brooch (1940) owned by French pop singer Claude François, and a Muslim prayer bead necklace (1970), with the word “Allah” engraved on the gold drop of the pendant. A 1976 Falcon made of silver, rough citrine, hand-carved verdite and agate was displayed to the public for the very first time in the region, alongside a diamond brooch (1928) in the shape of a palm tree and traditional domed buildings, which was owned by Jean-Charles Worth, who ran the famous House of Worth Haute Couture establishment in the 1920s.