Know-How
A SAVOIR-FAIRE THAT INSPIRES EXCEPTIONAL CREATIONS
At Cartier, savoir-faire is what connects an idea with its final form, creativity with expertise, style with the art of making. It's a connection that symbolises the spirit of dialogue and sharing that is present between the designers and artisans. Invisible yet ever present, and committed to a perpetual dynamic of evolution, Cartier savoir-faire allows for the exploration of new territories in a constant pursuit of beauty.
HIGH JEWELLERY WORKSHOPS
Cartier is one of the only Maisons in the world to bring every profession together under one roof within their High Jewellery workshops: stone experts, designers from the Creation Studio, sculptors, jewellers, 3D designers, polishers, gem-setters, lapidaries, glypticians, casters, stringers, lacquerers, watchmakers, ring makers. Our artisans are the guarantors of authentic work and savoir-faire, some of which spans back several millennia and has been passed down from generation to generation. Today, they combine their talent and expertise with the most cutting-edge technology to create timeless pieces. This is an enduring standard that has always been present in the creation of Cartier jewellery, reflecting the Maison’s identity.
SCULPTURE & REALISM
For both flora and fauna, the subject is first brought to life by a sculptor who carves it out of wax by hand. The precision of their movements, their talent and their attention to detail all work in harmony to produce a realistic representation. This step is carried out in close collaboration with the designer and expert jeweller. Their attention is particularly focused on translating the expressiveness and movement of their subjects.
AN INGENUITY THAT ENABLES MOVEMENT AND PLAY
Cartier has been a pioneer since it first started using platinum in the creation of its jewellery and since its exploration into Style Moderne, well before Art Deco. Today, ingenuity is at the heart of each creative endeavour, a phenomenon best exemplified by the pieces themselves.
THE SEARCH FOR SUPPLENESS AND COMFORT
Comfort is at the centre of everything we do. Designer and artisans ensure that their creations hug the body. They pay special attention to how the piece feels and the precision of the settings. The two challenges they face are to provide suppleness and movement whilst perfecting the visual aspect of the piece. It requires constant vigilance guided by ongoing analysis of the precise connections.
FRONT AND BACK
Creations that are beautiful on both sides. Designers and jewellers consider all the faces of an object as part of an inseparable whole, and this vision is a signature of the Maison. The jewellers take special care to hide the technical parts of the piece and work on the back of a creation in accordance with the overall design.
AN APPRECIATION FOR VERSATILITY
Versatility is central to the Cartier tradition. Due to the ingenuity of their design, the transformable creations are a way of letting freedom come into play in the way they are worn. The central stone of a necklace becomes a brooch or a ring, a set can be divided into different pieces that can be worn by several people at one time. The artisans have only one goal: to go beyond the constraints and produce a creation that is a joy to wear every day. From the most simple to the most spectacular, the systems and techniques are discreet and respect the aesthetics of the piece.
THE ART OF GLYPTICS
Glyptics is the art of engraving and sculpting hard, precious or fine stones. Cartier is one of the few great jewellers who undertake this Métier d’Art in-house. Integrated into the Maison in 2010, the workshop is now led by Émilie Marques, one of Maître d'Art Philippe Nicolas’ students, who now passes on her expertise to her apprentices.
FROM MASTER TO STUDENT, THE DESIRE TO TRANSMIT KNOWLEDGE
Committed to transmitting and perpetuating its savoir-faire, Cartier continuously develops new skills. Created in 2002, the Cartier Jewellery Institute in Paris offers its employees a continuous training programme. The High Jewellery workshops collaborate with the Institute on a daily basis to share knowledge and innovation, such as the preservation of rare crafts like glyptics, the art of carving and sculpting hard stones and fine materials. For more than 150 years, Cartier has been a partner of the Haute Ecole de Joaillerie in Paris and, since 2019, has been the main sponsor of the Association des Maîtres d'Arts et de leurs Élèves.
SPECIAL ORDERS, A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
For Cartier, special orders are an opportunity to offer its clients a unique experience. An intimate conversation born from a desire for a certain stone, a particular motif or simply the desire to be guided and surprised; a rich and lively exchange that leads to a shared vision. Special orders involve Cartier’s style and expertise as well as all of its jewellery savoir-faire: from the design to the choice of stones, right up to the final polishing, everything is carried out with the same standards of excellence that characterise all of the Maison’s objects.