Animals have been a source of endless inspiration for Cartier, serving as a canvas for their artisans to express their virtuosity and push the boundaries of design.
The Nature Sauvage collection revealed today in Vienna’s historic Kursalon, celebrates these creatures in unexpected, surreal forms, inviting the viewer to embark on a whimsical journey where the natural and the abstract intertwine.
Here, the profound cultural significance of animal symbolism is reimagined through a fusion of savoir-faire and unbridled creativity.
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Cartier Nature Sauvage Panthere Jaillissante bracelet/ring: white gold, emerald, sapphire spots,onyx nose, emerald eyes, diamonds
The iconic Cartier Bestiaire—that legendary menagerie of creatures—pays homage to its kindred muses, the majestic beings of the natural world. For over a century, this veritable bestiary has graced the Maison’s iconoclastic creations, imbuing each jewel with rich symbolic meaning and an unmistakable artistic expression.
The panther, that feline talisman of power, agility and femininity, has long been Cartier’s insuppressible spirit animal. Its sleek, sinuous form has adorned the jewellery since the early 20th century, embodying the Art Deco era’s passion for stylised, geometric designs with unparalleled glamour.
Cartier Nature Sauvage Amphista necklace: white gold, emeralds, diamonds
Cartier Nature Sauvage Amphista
“A new perspective of the Cartier Bestiaire, to surprise, amaze and bring modernity by way of unexpected encounters,” declares Jacqueline Karachi, Director of High Jewellery Creation, of the ethos behind Nature Sauvage. “Expressive jewellery which showcases the attitudes and personality of an animal, its vitality. Like an actor, it plays with graphics, volume and optical illusions, blending into an imaginary landscape.”
The collection showcases a dazzling array of unique haute joaillerie pieces, each jewel a breathtaking vignette of peerless craftsmanship and the compelling narratives that bestow life upon these creations.
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Cartier Nature Sauvage Mochelys necklace: rose gold, rubellites, diamonds
Cartier Nature Sauvage Mochelys
It is, indeed, an eternal dance between the terrestrial and the fantastical that has defined humanity’s relationship with the animal kingdom since time immemorial. Throughout the ages, these majestic beings have been more than mere muses—they have embodied the sacred, the revered, the powerful. Deities and spiritual guides, icons of fertility and protection.
Cast your mind to ancient Egypt, where the feline reigned as the sanctified incarnation of the mighty goddess Bastet. The regal cat graced jewels and amulets, exalting grace and life force. The serpent too held profound symbolism, an embodiment of the eternal cycle of renewal and regeneration. These motifs transcended mere adornment, revealing entire belief systems and civilisations’ veneration of the natural world.
Traverse eastwards through the ancient silk routes, and one is met with the triumphant visage of the imperial dragon, its form a talisman of strength, prosperity and mankind’s sacred covenant to rule. In Asian cultures, this mythical leviathan was more than a figment of imagination—it was a breathing embodiment of the unrelenting forces of nature itself and the perpetual rhythms of the universe.
Cartier Nature Sauvage Koaga necklace: white gold, rubellite,onyx, diamonds
Cartier Nature Sauvage Koaga
As Cartier’s Nature Sauvage collection illustrates, these primordial symbolic meanings have transcended the ages, finding new life through a contemporary prism. The exhibition’s sublime “Amphista” necklace sees two serpentine creatures coiling in a sensual dance, their diamond scales shimmering with emerald opulence—an eternal awakening sparked anew. Meanwhile, the “Celestun” brooch reinterprets that iconic motif, the flamingo, channelling an embodiment of grace, beauty and the splendours of the natural world.
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Cartier Nature Sauvage Celestun necklace: platinum, aquamarines, emeralds,rose gold and black lacquer beak,yellow diamond eye, diamonds
Cartier Nature Sauvage Amphista necklace: white gold, emeralds, diamonds
Cartier Nature Sauvage Alae necklace: white gold, onyx, diamonds
In an age where one’s connection to the natural world risks dissipating, Cartier’s Nature Sauvage emerges as a vital totem—a statement that rekindles humanity’s primordial reverence for these beasts of the earth and sky. As one beholds the matrimony of peerless skill and spectacular storytelling within each jewel, the wild wonderland of the animal kingdom is resurrected in all its symbolic splendour. An alchemy of the mythic and material, the ancient and avant-garde, this latest high jewellery collection is set to enchant a new generation with the eternal allure of the natural world.
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