Cartier Exhibition 2025: Jewels Fit for Royalty

The Cartier Exhibition  at the Victoria and Albert Museum is already captivating audiences, marking a defining moment in the UK’s cultural calendar. This landmark showcase is the most ambitious Cartier has ever staged in Britain. The display is a glittering celebration of history, craftsmanship, and eternal style. Spanning from royal commissions to truly glittering red carpet icons, this extraordinary collection bridges art, fashion, and fine jewellery, succinctly demonstrating Cartier's legacy. 

Set in the heart of London, the Cartier Exhibition V&A affirms the maison’s longstanding connection to British heritage. For jewellery collectors, design lovers, and cultural enthusiasts alike, this is far more than a retrospective; a rare opportunity to witness Cartier’s evolving artistry on an unprecedented scale.

Why the V&A Cartier 2025 Exhibition Is a Landmark for Jewellery Lovers

The Cartier Exhibition at the V&A is a rare cultural moment, one that unites design, heritage, and influence on an international stage. Now open at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, this remarkable retrospective marks the first time in nearly 30 years that the French maison’s archives have been unveiled on this scale in the UK.

Set within the Sainsbury Gallery, the Cartier Exhibition V&A offers an immersive journey through 175 years of jewellery history, design innovation, and cultural relevance. It is not only the largest exhibition Cartier has ever mounted in Britain but also the most comprehensive. Over 300 pieces are on display, ranging from royal commissions and celebrity adornments to never-before-seen works drawn from private collections, including loans from King Charles and the Royal Collection.

What you need to know about the Cartier Exhibition London:

• Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL

• Dates: Open now through Sunday, 16 November 2025

• Admission: £27 weekday / £29 weekend (concessions available)

• Tickets: Advance booking strongly recommended

• Venue: The Sainsbury Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum

• Highlights: A world-class tiara room, royal jewels, rare archival pieces, and fashion moments

What’s so special about this Cartier Exhibition?

This Cartier Exhibition 2025 invites visitors to explore not just the art of jewellery, but the legacy of a house that helped define it, shaping royal fashion and pop culture for over 170 years. For the first time, British audiences can explore the maison’s full creative arc in a museum context, from its Parisian origins in 1847 to its present-day prominence. With London as one of Cartier’s international hubs, the V&A Cartier Exhibition serves as a fitting tribute to the inserverable relationship between Britain and this legendary jeweller, and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the Maison in all its splendor. 

A Royal Affair: Cartier and the Crowns of the World

Few names in jewellery are as closely entwined with royalty as Cartier. Often called the “Jeweller of Kings and the King of Jewellers,” the maison has served monarchs across Europe, Asia, and beyond, creating pieces that symbolise not only beauty, but power, lineage, and legacy.

In 1904, King Edward VII formally cemented Cartier’s relationship with the British crown by granting it a royal warrant. His admiration went further: he commissioned 27 tiaras from Cartier for his coronation and named the house a principal jeweller to the royal family. These were not mere decorative accessories, they were symbols of trust, distinction, and the unmatched craftsmanship that defines Cartier to this day.

The Cartier Exhibition now open at the Victoria and Albert Museum brings this royal connection vividly to life. The exhibition showcases iconic commissions that have graced the heads and necks of the world’s most celebrated royals. But, this is not simply an opportunity to view exquisite jewels. The V&A Cartier exhibition invites visitors into a world where Cartier’s creations helped define royal identity, ceremony, and style. That this retrospective takes place in London, a city so central to Cartier’s international legacy and success, only deepens its cultural weight. For admirers of high jewellery and history alike, it offers a rare chance to see what royalty sees: splendour, precision, and peerless design.

Star Power: Cartier’s Celebrity Devotees

Beyond royal courts and state banquets, Cartier’s jewels have found a second home on the red carpet. Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, and Sophia Loren were among the many screen legends who championed the maison’s exquisite creations. Today, stars such as Rihanna, and Cartier Ambassadors such as BTS and Timothée Chalamet continue to bring Cartier into the modern spotlight, wearing both vintage and contemporary iconic pieces and high jewellery with unmistakable flair.

The Cartier Exhibition London features some of the house’s most photographed jewels, pieces immortalised in editorial spreads, film stills, and award-show moments. This facet of the V&A Cartier exhibition underscores the maison’s ongoing dialogue with modern culture, proving that Cartier remains as relevant on the runway as it is in royal vaults.

Opening Night at the V&A

To mark the launch of the Cartier exhibition 2025, the V&A hosted two glittering evenings on the 9th and 10th of April, a suitably elegant prelude to the opening of this extraordinarily luxurious event. 

The celebrity attendees of this extravagant Cartier exhibition party arrived at the V&A draped in diamonds and couture. Emma Corrin dazzled in a sheer Steve O Smith gown and a radiant Cartier High Jewellery diamond necklace, while Gemma Chan stunned in a mint-green sequin dress by Tamara Ralph, paired with a diamond bracelet and earrings by Cartier. Ambassadors Paul Mescal and David Jonsson completed the scene in classic black tie, each wearing vintage Cartier pieces. The exhibition Cartier may chronicle the past, but its opening night affirmed Cartier’s place at the heart of contemporary style.

What We're Most Excited to See at the Cartier Exhibition London

As a company deeply immersed in the world of luxury, we at S&R share the excitement surrounding the landmark V&A Cartier exhibition. This extraordinary showcase brings together 350 remarkable pieces including regal tiaras, exquisite brooches, rare watches, and iconic necklaces, many on loan from private collections, including those of King Charles III and Prince Albert II of Monaco.

For collectors, enthusiasts, and jewellers alike, this is a rare opportunity to witness Cartier's high jewellery up close, including pieces never before seen by the public. As purveyors of fine pre-owned jewellery and watches, we can’t help but feel a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship and heritage on display. Here are some of the Maison’s highlights on display that we are particularly excited about.

Jewels of Sovereignty: Cartier Tiaras at the V&A Cartier Exhibition

The Cartier Exhibition London brings visitors face-to-face with some of the most breathtaking royal commissions ever created. Among the many highlights of the Cartier exhibition at the V&A, the tiara display, known as the pièce de résistance, presents one of the largest and most important gatherings of Cartier tiaras in history.

We’re particularly drawn to the Scroll Tiara (1902), a dazzling piece commissioned for the Countess of Essex, later worn by Lady Churchill at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation and styled by Rihanna for W magazine in 2016. Its elegant scrollwork captures the refined artistry of Cartier’s Belle Époque period, showcasing the brand's style in the early 20th century. 

Equally resplendent is the Manchester Tiara (1903), created for the Dowager Duchess of Manchester. This diamond-laden creation radiates Edwardian grandeur, a testament to Cartier’s early reputation as the jeweller of royalty. Its design of graduated flaming hearts and C scrolls were inspired by 18th century ironwork and architectural ornament in France prior to the revolution. 

Then there’s the mesmerising Opal Tiara (1937), commissioned by Mary Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington. The blend of shimmering black opals and brilliant diamonds embodies the bold sophistication of the Art Deco era, a perfect example of how Cartier jewellery bridges eras with grace.

María Félix’s Cartier Snake Necklace& Cartier Crash Watch

Gem Encrusted Treasures of the Neckline

Among the many resplendent displays at the Cartier Exhibition London, the necklace collection offers a striking journey through 170 years of the maison’s gemstone mastery and innovative metalwork. From regal commissions to avant-garde creations, the Cartier exhibition at the V&A showcases necklaces that are not merely adornments, but declarations of style and identity.

One unforgettable highlight is María Félix’s Snake Necklace (1968), a visionary piece commissioned by the Mexican actress and created with an astonishing 2,473 diamonds. This lifelike serpent is more than a feat of technical brilliance; it reflects Cartier’s consistent fascination with elegant predators, capturing nature’s most powerful forms in materials that defy time. Sculptural, sensual, and entirely singular, it remains one of the most audacious creations ever exhibited by the house.

Time Distorted: Cartier Crash Watches

The Cartier Exhibition London concludes with a captivating display of horological masterpieces, none more striking than the legendary Crash watch. First unveiled in 1967, the Crash broke with tradition entirely. Its warped, asymmetrical case defied the era’s conservative forms, capturing the free-spirited creativity of the Swinging Sixties. With only a limited number ever produced, it has become one of the most coveted and recognisable timepieces in the maison’s history. Revered for both its rarity and radical silhouette, the Crash exemplifies Cartier’s ability to transform the familiar into the fantastical, a final flourish that lingers long after the exhibition’s end. We absolutely recommend viewing this horological marvel while it is on display.

Experience Cartier's Legacy Without the Wait

The Cartier Exhibition 2025 makes one truth abundantly clear: the house’s craftsmanship, heritage, and lasting cultural relevance place it at the pinnacle of luxury design. As collectors and connoisseurs turn their attention to the maison’s storied pieces, demand will inevitably surge.

At S&R, we take pride in offering certified second-hand Cartier jewellery and Cartier watches, giving you the opportunity to invest in a legacy of excellence, with both confidence and value. Explore our curated collection of pre-owned luxury brands and acquire a piece of impeccable artistry. Visit us in-store or contact our expert team to source your next luxury statement piece.

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