With Paris Nouvelle Vague, Cartier takes its inspiration from the playful spirit of Parisian women for its latest jewelry collection. Featuring lapis-lazuli, diamond and black lacquer on structured forms, cabochons and jewels in clusters, Cartier speaks to us about everyday, modern, changing jewelry.
Although Paris Nouvelle Vague was first created in 1999 then reinvented in 2013, the collection has now been refreshed with new models, with a resolutely in vogue and fanciful spirit.
The dimensions are impressive or surprising and highly structured, bringing to mind the bold lines of the French capital. This is far removed from the traditional pared down styling of the house’s famous jewelry collections: Trinity, LOVE or Juste un Clou. Cluster ear rings or cabochon rings (just imagine eating a sorbet by the Seine), shells or waves, everybody will find something of the Paris of their dreams.
Cartier is clearly aiming the Paris Nouvelle Vague collection at a modern woman who changes her jewels to suit her mood (from around €2,620 to €124,000). The heroine who incarnates the collection (Italian it girl Bianca Brandolini, who reminds us that being Parisian is above all a state of mind) has many facets—she is joyful, slick and bold. With pink and yellow gold, diamond, lapis-lazuli, amethyst, mother of pearl, aquamarine, spinel, chrysoprase, Paris Nouvelle Vague mixes gemstones and precious materials without limiting its creativity.
Leave it to Jeanne Moreau, the quintessential Parisian, to take us back in time, whistling this evocative ballad: “Elle avait des bagues à chaque doigt, des tas bracelets autour du poignet, et puis elle chantait, avec une voix, qui sitôt m’enjôla!”
With Paris Nouvelle Vague, we have not finished getting caught in the whirl.
