170 Years of Cartier at London's V&A

(IDEX Online) - More than 350 items of jewelry, spanning over 170 years of Cartier's style and creativity, are to go on show at London's V&A (Victoria and Albert) Gallery.

It's being billed as "the UK's first major exhibition in almost 30 years dedicated to Cartier jewels and watches, exploring how the maison became an unparalleled force in the jewellery and watch world."

Highlights include the Williamson Diamond brooch commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 featuring the rare 23.6 carat pink Williamson diamond; the Scroll Tiara commissioned in 1902 and worn to the coronation of Elizabeth II, and by Rihanna on the cover of W magazine in 2016; and Grace Kelly's engagement ring (1956), from the Monaco Princely Palace Collection, that she wore in her final film High Society.

Exhibition curator Helen Molesworth said: "Cartier is one of the most famous jewellery houses in the world. With its world-class jewellery collection, the V&A is the perfect stage to celebrate the pioneering achievements of Cartier and its transformative ability to remain at the centre of culture and creativity for more than a century."

Cartier was founded in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier in Paris. It became known as 'the jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers' and later broadened its appeal thanks to the devotion of leading creatives from the worlds of cinema, music and fashion.

The exhibition Cartier runs at V&A South Kensington from 12 April 2025 to 16 November 2025.

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), established in 1852, is the world's largest museum dedicated to applied arts, decorative arts, and design, with a collection of over 2.8 million objects spanning 5,000 years. 

Pic shows Cartier's Scroll Tiara, worn to the coronation of Elizabeth II, and by Rihanna.