Cartier’s Precious Garage, Honoring Juste un Clou, On Display In New York Boutique

Cartier Precious Garage

Last week at the Cartier Fifth Avenue Mansion in New York City, the brand unveiled the Cartier Precious Garage boutique “experience” concept. I covered the event and the concept, as well as the new jewelry the concept was built to honor, on my Perfect Timing column on Forbes.com. Here, we bring you that article.

“The Precious Garage is all about showcasing the newest additions to the Parisian brand’s iconic Juste un Clou and Écrou de Cartier collections. Celebrating the indispensable nail, nuts and bolts, these collections represent some of the most free-spirited, “ordinary becomes extraordinary” pieces of jewelry from the Maison. During the entire month of September, visitors to the Fifth Avenue Mansion can witness the Cartier Precious Garage theme, which will later become a traveling pop-up experience in both Seattle and Nashville.”

The Cartier Precious Garage Fifth Avenue store will be open the entire month of September before going on tour.BFA

“The entire three-story Mansion was redecorated and transformed into a modern-day garage. Upon entry, there is an entire gold wire-framed car surrounded by black oilcans. The Precious Garage concept features walls bedecked with black- and gold-painted engine parts, wheels, fenders and more. The jewelry—inspired by nuts, bolts and nails—was interspersed in vitrines, and small bites were served on beds of nails, nuts and bolts. Black oilcans were stacked around, one with a gold oil spill.”

Cartier gold oil spill at the star-studded Cartier Precious Garage event.CARTIER

“Following a performance by Lykke Li, silver and black wrenches, pliers, nails, nuts and bolts made of chocolate were served for dessert—all inspired by the Juste un Clou and Ecrou de Cartier lines. At the star-studded event (attended by celebrities such as Lily Collins, Zoe Saldana, Elizabeth Chambers and Justin Theroux), Cartier showcased its newest, slimmer and trimmer, designs making their debut in these collections.”

“For those not in the Cartier know, the beloved Juste un Clou line—wherein the nail becomes a precious jewel—was first designed by Aldo Cipullo, who also designed the famed Love bracelet. Enthralled with nuts, bolts, screws and hardware in general, Cipullo created the Juste un Clou edgy bracelet series in 1971. Highly wearable, the minimalist jewelry was perfect for women and even for men, and was an immediate hit. Today, it remains a highly successful collection, wherein gracefully curved nails form bracelets, rings and even earrings.”

Cartier diamond-adorned Juste un Clou during Cartier Precious Garage event.

The new collection elevates nails, bolts and screws into high jewels.CARTIER

CARTIER

“The success of the Juste un Clous collection led to last year’s unveiling of Ecrou de Cartier. This collection of stackable bangle bracelets inspired by nuts and bolts has also expanded to include earrings and rings. Completely seamless from end to end, the bracelets resemble a circular bolt and are adorned with six movable nuts, one of which opens the bracelet. In honor of these two lines, Cartier adds several new pieces: the Juste un Clou collection, previously in rose or white gold, gains a new, slimmer version bracelet in 18-karat rose gold and in 18-karat yellow gold. There are also slimmer, smaller rings being offered in each of the three colors of gold. The prices are a bit more attainable, with the bracelet at $3,050 and the rings selling for $1,120 to $1,200. The Ecrou de Cartier II collection gains an 18-karat yellow gold sibling ($6,600) and new rings with just five bolts on each—offered in all three colors of gold and retailing for $2,300 to $2,470. There are also diamond encrusted versions, as well.”