Zoe Saldaña Got a Rare Glimpse Into Cartier’s Most Secretive Workshop
Cartier opened the doors of its High Jewelry workshop in Paris to Zoe Saldaña, offering a glimpse into the extraordinary craftsmanship behind the Maison’s upcoming collection
Zoe Saldaña was recently welcomed into Cartier’s High Jewelry workshop in the heart of Paris, one of the most closely guarded creative spaces in the world of fine jewellery, for an exclusive preview of the Haryma necklace ahead of the Maison’s upcoming High Jewellery collection, Le Choeur des Pierres.
The visit gave Saldaña a genuine look into how Cartier High Jewelry is made, from the very beginning. For the Haryma necklace, it started with a set of Imperial topazes that inspired the designer to imagine a dynamic tiger creation. From that first drawing through to the final polish, she followed the entire process, meeting the artisans behind each stage along the way.
What struck her, and what strikes anyone who gets close to this level of craftsmanship, is the detail that goes into parts of a piece most people will never even see. The finish on the back of each creation is held to the same standard as the front. The flexibility of the piece is engineered specifically to create what Cartier calls a second skin effect when worn. The balance of volumes and shapes is considered from every angle, not just the one facing the room.
The workshop itself brings together every jewelry profession under one roof, all working in close creative dialogue with each other. It is the largest High Jewelry atelier in the world and the energy inside it, focused, skilled and deeply collaborative, is something Saldaña clearly felt.
“It is incredible to see how much care and precision goes into every detail,” she said. “There is something really special about witnessing the piece come to life. It gives you a whole new appreciation for the craftsmanship behind it.”
Le Choeur des Pierres will be unveiled in the South of France later this month.
Images Supplied