An exceptional volume dedicated to Cartier’s latest collection of high jewelry and precious objects.

Le Chœur des Pierres—the name of Cartier’s new high jewelry collection—resonates with a play on words between the French terms chœur (choir) and cœur (heart). This twofold allusion simultaneously encapsulates the foundational principle of Cartier’s vision of high jewelry—that the stone lies at the heart of the creative process—and brings together principal and accent stones into a choir of gems that form an ensemble in which every voice harmonizes to create an exceptional piece.

How does one create perfect harmony among the different stones of a piece of jewelry, tuned in unison to a design, a rhythm, a play of pairings and echoes, like a musical choir? Cartier’s experts and designers are masters of this art of orchestration, which consists of bringing stones together so that their magic unites within a single jewel. Within this ensemble, none should blend in or vanish: each holds equal importance, as in a chorale where every voice counts and stands apart. A subtle play gives the design its dynamism and rhythm.

About The Author

François Chaille, a writer and historian, is passionate about art history, fashion, jewelry, and watchmaking. He has published many books including The Cartier Collection: High Jewelry and Precious Objects. Hélène Kelmachter is an art historian and curator of exhibitions devoted to contemporary art and to the métiers d’art. Helen Molesworth, a renowned jewelry historian, gemologist, and author, is the senior curator of jewelry at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Rinko Kawauchi, one of the most prominent Japanese photographers in Japan and internationally, has developed a unique photographic style since the early 2000s.