How Cartier's Agrafe collection transcends time and trends

For a brand that was founded in 1847, Cartier certainly doesn't show its age: Partnerships with the hottest celebrities and icons (a recent sampling of celebs spotted in Cartier: Billie Eilish, Timothée Chalamet, Jackson Wang...) and subversive collections that have already attained cult-like status in a stunningly short period of time (see: the spiky Clash de Cartier motif) — few heritage jewellery brands have managed to keep pace with the inures of time as Cartier has.

Still, that doesn’t mean Cartier has forgotten entirely about its storied past. The brand is constantly finding ways to modernise and celebrate its rich heritage: Case in point, the Agrafe collection. The clasp motif of this decadent range draws inspiration from corsets; by the late 19th century, historians note that corset silhouettes started getting softer and rounder — a blatant reversal of the sometimes aggressive looking shapes that came before. And, as in any other Cartier collection, it’s the little details that shine through: See how supple and sinuous bracelet and necklace are, how effortlessly the rose gold clasp motif folds together, a testament to the brand’s years of jewellery expertise.