The exhibition “Cartier” at the Victoria & Albert Museum promises to be a brilliant, multifaceted viewing experience. On display from April 12 to Nov. 16, 2025, it is the first show of its kind in the UK in almost 30 years. It will present over 350 objects, including peerless examples of jewels, timepieces, and drawings.
Cartier is a luxury brand (Maison) synonymous with creativity, connoisseurship, and collectors. King Edward VII characterized it famously as the “Jeweler of kings … and king of jewelers.” Important pieces from royal collections are being loaned to the exhibition. An outstanding example is the Williamson Diamond brooch. Designed as a jonquil flower, it was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, the year of her coronation. The composition venerates an exceedingly rare 23.6-carat pink diamond, a 1947 wedding gift to the then young princess, set as the calyx. The gem is one of the finest pink diamonds ever discovered.
