Masterpieces
on the
Silver Screen

(Synergies) Some encounters feel so natural that their significance only becomes clear in hindsight. The connection between Cartier and cinema is one such symbiosis—grown over a century, and sustained by the quiet understanding that craftsmanship speaks a language that resonates both on screen and on the skin.

Icons of the Screen
As early as the 1920s, screen legends like Rudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson wore Cartier jewelry in roles that made film history. Valentino, the great star of the silent film era, famously refused to remove his Cartier wristwatch during the filming of “The Son of the Sheik” (1926). The accessory thus became a silent supporting actor—a symbol of the modern man of the 1920s.

Gloria Swanson, a legendary actress, wore her rock crystal Cartier bangles in “Perfect Understanding” (1933) and again in Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard” (1950). The jewelry became a visual link, a bridge between character and real-life persona.

Then and Now
A century later, the language remains the same—only the pace of storytelling has changed. For Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme” (2025), a custom rosary necklace was created, adorned with emeralds and rubies, and inspired by a cross pendant from the 1880s. In the film, it was accompanied by a Tank Louis Cartier watch and a high jewelry diamond ring. Anderson’s meticulous cinematic style has found its sparkling counterpart in Cartier’s precise savoir-faire.

Equally iconic: the return of a diva. In “Maria” (2024), a biopic about opera legend Maria Callas directed by Pablo Larraín, Angelina Jolie wore jewelry from Callas’ personal collection—including the iconic panther brooch and a rose brooch, both released from the Cartier archives for the film. At the 81st Venice International Film Festival, not only was the singer honored, but also the artistic symbiosis between jewelry and protagonist.

Masterpieces in Front of the Camera
Hollywood’s recent glamour moments continue this tradition: in “Ocean’s 8”, the Toussaint necklace—a jewel of extraordinary symbolic power—takes center stage in the plot. For Anne Hathaway’s character, Daphne Kluger, Cartier’s Haute Joaillerie workshops in Paris created a spectacular one-of-a-kind piece based on a 1931 design by Jacques Cartier for the Maharaja of Nawanagar. It was later described as “the most beautiful cascade of colored diamonds in the world.” At its heart was the famous 136.25-carat “Queen of Holland” diamond. Since the original no longer exists, Cartier’s creative team used archival sketches and photographs to recreate it. The piece was completed in just eight weeks—a feat combining high artistry with a tight schedule. The necklace was scaled down by 15–20% to fit Hathaway’s neck, as the original was designed for a man. Real diamonds were replaced with sparkling zirconium oxides set in white gold—not for practical reasons, but to withstand close-up shots in the film. And it worked masterfully.

Stories from the Red Carpet
Cartier has also made a statement off-screen. Hollywood’s new-generation superstar Timothée Chalamet appeared at the premieres of “Dune” and “Wonka” wearing custom-designed pieces from Cartier—including a chain made of rotating gold structures, set with 800 gemstones, dazzling alongside the paparazzi’s flashbulbs.

But the story goes even further back: in 1946, Jean Cocteau used real teardrop-shaped Cartier diamonds to promote “La Belle et la Bête,” saying, “Only a real diamond throws fire.” María Félix, the legendary muse of the Maison, wore a necklace of two movable crocodiles set with over 2,000 yellow diamonds and emeralds on the red carpet in 1975.

Cartier in Venice
The intimate connection between film and Cartier now finds official expression at the Venice International Film Festival. Since 2021, Cartier has been a partner of the festival and presents the “Glory to the Filmmaker Award” to individuals shaping contemporary cinema. Ridley Scott (2021), Wes Anderson (2023), and Claude Lelouch (2024) have already received the award. In 2025, Cartier has expanded its commitment by sponsoring all of the festival’s masterclasses.

These masterclasses bring together prestigious artists such as Sofia Coppola and Milena Canonero, Jane Campion and Tanya Seghatchian, Sergio Castellitto and Margaret Mazzantini, and Alfonso Cuarón and a yet-to-be-revealed guest, to explore the connection between craftsmanship and film. Whether in the flickering darkness of the cinema or under the bright lights of the red carpet—Cartier’s jewelry is never just a supporting act.