For over a century, Cartier has been synonymous with luxury, elegance, and impeccable craftsmanship. The French maison has created some of the world’s most recognizable and coveted jewelry and timepieces, each bearing the unmistakable signature of Cartier’s distinctive design philosophy.
From innovative watches to revolutionary jewelry concepts, Cartier’s creations have adorned royalty, celebrities, and discerning collectors worldwide.
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is hosting a landmark Cartier exhibition until 16 November 2025, showcasing over 350 pieces from Cartier’s extraordinary legacy. The exhibition underscores Cartier’s unique position at the intersection of art, craftsmanship, and cultural history. Several of the iconic Cartier designs below are on display there.
1. Cartier Tank Watch
The Tank watch is perhaps Cartier’s most enduring and recognizable timepiece. Created by Louis Cartier in 1917, the design was inspired by the horizontal profile of military tanks used during World War I.
With its rectangular case, clean lines, and Roman numeral dial, the Tank embodies elegant simplicity and timeless modernity. Throughout its century-plus history, this celebrity watch has been worn by luminaries including Andy Warhol, Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, and countless other style icons.
Available in multiple variations including the Tank Louis Cartier, Tank Française, Tank Américaine, and Tank Solo, this iconic design continues to be reinvented while maintaining its essential character.
2. Cartier Love Bracelet
Designed by Aldo Cipullo in 1969, the Love bracelet revolutionized the concept of luxury jewelry with its bold, modernist aesthetic and unique concept. The bracelet, which literally locks onto the wearer’s wrist and can only be removed with a special screwdriver, was designed as a symbol of committed love.
Its minimalist oval shape adorned with screw motifs created an entirely new jewelry language that rejected the ornate styles of previous eras. The Love bracelet has since become Cartier’s most successful collection and one of the most recognizable pieces of jewelry in the world, inspiring numerous imitations but never equaled in its cultural significance.
3. Juste Un Clou Bracelet
Another Aldo Cipullo creation, the Juste Un Clou (“Just a Nail”) bracelet transformed an ordinary object into a luxury statement piece. Designed in the 1970s during New York’s vibrant creative renaissance, this bold bracelet reimagines a simple construction nail as an elegant, continuous gold band that wraps around the wrist.
The design perfectly captured the era’s edgy creativity while maintaining Cartier’s signature elegance. After being reintroduced to the market in 2012, the Juste Un Clou collection has expanded to include rings, necklaces, and earrings, all preserving the original’s subversive luxury aesthetic.
4. Halo Tiara
Featuring in the current V&A Exhibition, the Halo Tiara represents Cartier’s mastery of royal commissions. Created in 1936 for the Duke of York (later King George VI) to give to his wife (later known as the Queen Mother), this tiara achieved global recognition when Kate Middleton wore it on her wedding day to Prince William in 2011.
The platinum tiara features 739 brilliant-cut diamonds and 149 baguette-cut diamonds arranged in a series of scrolls. Its geometric yet feminine design perfectly exemplifies the Art Deco aesthetic Cartier helped define, with its clean lines and mathematical precision creating a halo of light around the wearer’s face.
The piece demonstrates this French luxury brand’s unparalleled skill in working with platinum, a material the house pioneered in jewelry making.
5. Panthère de Cartier
The panther has been Cartier’s signature animal since 1914, when Louis Cartier commissioned a painting titled “Dame à la panthère” featuring his lover Jeanne Toussaint, who later became Cartier’s creative director and was nicknamed “La Panthère.” Under Toussaint’s direction, the panther became a recurring motif across Cartier’s collections.
The first three-dimensional Cartier panther was created in 1948 for the Duchess of Windsor. Since then, the sleek, powerful feline has appeared in countless Cartier creations, from watches to brooches, rings, and necklaces.
The Panthère watch, with its flexible gold link bracelet designed to mimic the fluid movement of the animal, became particularly iconic in the 1980s and remains a beloved design following its 2017 relaunch.
6. Tutti Frutti Collection
The vibrant Tutti Frutti collection represents Cartier’s most exuberant and colorful design expression. Created in the 1920s and 1930s, these pieces feature carved emeralds, rubies, and sapphires in the shapes of leaves, berries, and flowers, arranged in lush, colorful compositions.
Inspired by Indian Mughal jewelry following Jacques Cartier’s visits to India, the Tutti Frutti designs (originally called “fruit salad”) became symbols of exotic luxury during the Art Deco period. These intricate creations showcase Cartier’s masterful gemstone carving techniques and bold color combinations.
Though vintage Tutti Frutti pieces command extraordinary prices at auction, Cartier continues to create new interpretations of this joyful, nature-inspired design language.
7. Crash Watch
Perhaps Cartier’s most surreal creation, the Crash watch features an asymmetrical, melted case shape that defies conventional watchmaking aesthetics. Created in 1967 by Cartier London, the design was reportedly inspired by a Cartier watch that had been damaged in a car accident and warped by fire.
The distorted form evokes Salvador Dalí‘s melting clocks, though Cartier developed the design independently of the surrealist movement. Produced in extremely limited quantities, the Crash has become one of the most collectible and valuable Cartier watches.
Its unconventional design was decades ahead of its time and continues to stand out in the world of luxury timepieces for its artistic daring.
8. Santos de Cartier Watch
The Santos watch holds the distinction of being one of the world’s first purpose-designed wristwatches. It was created in 1904 by Louis Cartier for his friend, the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont.
This timepiece was designed to allow the pilot to check the time while flying without removing his hands from the controls. Its distinctive square case with exposed screws, sword-shaped hands, and Roman numerals established a design language that remains instantly recognizable.
The Santos collection has evolved over the decades but maintains its aviation heritage and pioneering spirit, representing Cartier’s perfect balance of function and elegant design. It makes a great milestone watch gift.
9. Mystery Clocks
Another highlight from the V&A Exhibition, Cartier’s Mystery Clocks represent some of the house’s most ingenious technical achievements. First created in 1912, these remarkable timepieces feature hands that appear to float in transparent crystal with no visible connection to any movement.
This illusion was achieved through a secret mechanism where the hands are mounted on transparent crystal discs driven by gears hidden in the frame. Often incorporating carved jade, rock crystal, or other precious materials, these clocks combined horological innovation with artistic virtuosity.
The Mystery Clocks displayed at the V&A Exhibition showcased Cartier’s collaboration with master clockmaker Maurice Couët and demonstrated how the house elevated timekeeping to an art form during the early 20th century.
Final Thoughts on the Most Iconic Cartier Designs
From transforming utilitarian objects like nails and screws into luxury statements to creating timepieces that defy conventional design rules, Cartier’s creative legacy continues to influence the worlds of jewelry and watchmaking. Each iconic design reflects not just exceptional craftsmanship, but the maison’s willingness to challenge conventions while maintaining an unmistakable aesthetic identity that has captivated the world for generations.
