Cartier High Jewellery Workshops & Rue de la Paix

SJX provides an exclusive look into Cartier's high jewelry workshops and the historic Rue de la Paix boutique in Paris. This report offers a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on the meticulous craftsmanship involved in creating Cartier's dazzling jewelry, highlighting the blend of traditional artistry and the brand's rich heritage. Readers will appreciate the detailed account of a process often shrouded in secrecy.

After touching down at Charles de Gaulle airport this morning I visited Cartier's storied Rue de la Paix boutique as well as the high jewellery workshops. I'm working from a netbook on a spotty hotel connection so here are a handful of pictures and a brief report for now.

Located in a busy area of Paris near the Rue de la Paix boutique, the location of the high jewellery workshop is kept secret for security reasons. I was shown around by Xavier Gargat, a 40 year veteran of Cartier who began as a jewellery and is is now Director of the high jewellery atelier.

The jewellery made at this atelier is of the sculptural and dazzling sort. Nearly everything is done by hand like it was done decades and centuries ago. It is like a watchmaking operation, except there is more art and less technology.

A jewellery doing metal work

The wheel and vise for polishing diamonds

A handful of large stones were on the premises, the emerald and canary diamond were exceptional; many deliveries were recently made so not too made stones were available

Mr Gargat in the watchmaking section of the jewellery workshop where high jewellery watches are put together; the work done there is mainly case work rather than movement work

Then over to the Cartier store on Rue de la Paix. Opened in 1899, this store has been visited by a sundry assortment of the rich, famous and royal over the century it has been open. Photos of various personalities are found throughout the store, from Elizabeth Taylor to the Queen of Bulgari, all of whom were Cartier clients and many of whom had been in the store to shop - the history is impressive.

Some remodelling has been done but both the interior and exterior are substantially the same as they were in 1899. Being a protected historic building, the facade cannot be changed. Cartier has done a superb job of preserving the feel of the building and store. It remains a charming and elegant place. 

The grand interior of the store

Louis Cartier's office on the corner of the first floor that is occasionally used to host clients; the furnishings in the room are original and so is the wood panelling

Another of the first floor rooms facing the street contains four display cases showcasing vintage Cartier items for sale that have been restored and certified by Cartier; the watch at the top is a 1960s "pebble" watch so named for its shape

Further in the store the current collection of watches are on display

A room on the second floor was the former office of Jeanne Troussaint, nicknamed the "Panther", who would later becoming Director of Jewellery at Cartier and was responsible for many of the iconic Cartier designs inspired by nature and animals

And on the top floor is a quiet area used for exhibitions of Cartier's collection of vintage items, both watches, clocks and jewellery, which are changed every two months or so. Each exhibition is themed and only open to select clients. The current exhibition is focused on Cartier items inspired by the East with most of the items being Art Deco from the 1920s.

An Indian inspired necklace

A Chinoiserie letter opener in coral 

A stunning Cartier Mystery clock - I was fortunate enough to photograph without the display case, a lucky encounter with a rare timepiece