Design and artistry once again converge at Cartier’s New York City flagship. On June 13, atop the recently renovated Cartier mansion on Fifth Avenue in New York, the brand launched a new installation showcasing the latest additions to its Cactus de Cartier jewelry collection.
The cactus-inspired line, first launched in 2016, offers an elegant, sculptural take on the hearty desert plants. The newest additions to the collections are more delicate than the bold, bejeweled pieces unveiled last year.
To underscore the theme, Cartier has created a desert-inspired installation to feature the collection, which eschews the jeweler’s traditionally favored lush floral forms to embrace the symbol of the cactus, a consummate survivor that calmly thrives in adverse conditions.
Cactus de Cartier installation. Courtesy of BFA.
Painted in warm, orange and red hues, the room evokes the setting sun, while the lighting within reflects a full cycle of a day in the desert, from the crisp morning light to the blood-orange glow of sunset. It all provides a stunning backdrop to the yellow and rose gold jewelry, which embodies the blend of elegance and natural verve.
On the other side of the roof, in a comfortably appointed open-air cabana, there are photographs from Santa Fe artist Ja Soon Kim, who each morning collects desert flora to incorporate into her work. Her gorgeous still-life images accentuate the visual similarities between the cactus-inspired jewelry, adorned with emeralds, carnelians, lapis, and diamonds, and the real cacti that inspired the collection.
“As summer nears, we’re excited to share one of Cartier’s most imaginative collections with this rooftop installation,” said Mercedes Abramo, Cartier North America president and CEO, in a statement. “The beauty of the Cactus de Cartier collection lies in its stunning simplicity—unique, easy to wear pieces for audacious women everywhere.”
See more photos of the installation below.
Cactus de Cartier installation. Courtesy of BFA.
Ja Soon Kim for Cactus de Cartier. Courtesy of Cartier.
Cactus de Cartier installation. Courtesy of BFA.
Cactus de Cartier installation. Courtesy of Cartier.
Cactus de Cartier installation. Courtesy of Cartier.
Cactus de Cartier installation. Courtesy of Cartier.
The Cactus de Cartier installation and lounge will be open to the public at Cartier, 653 Fifth Avenue, Sixth Floor, New York, June 14–June 29, 2017.