Rushing out the door with a half-screwed-shut thermos and spilling scalding green tea down the hall is a bit of a ritual in many a modern household. But there was a time when the elixir was more than just a bit of a hectic morning’s accoutrement. Since the 1300s, tea ceremonies have been an art form facilitating a moment of dedicated routine to realign the mind and soul with its rigorous procedures.

Today, it’s not uncommon to waywardly pour yourself a cuppa at any given time, using any given equipment. What we take for granted as a caffeine hit to get us through a bumpy commute or a quick fix before bed to get us to sleep is steeped in a rich history of deep significance, one that is still held in high regard in many parts of the world.

But like so many practices that have evolved over time—food, fashion, and even dating, to name a few—we seem to have lost much of the magic around our daily living, neglecting components that make up our day-to-day and the beauty these fragments have to offer.

Convenience is almost hard to avoid in the 20th century, and a culture of hustling and bustling doesn’t always leave us the space to appreciate the little things, but what if it’s more about practice? What if looking at the tapestry of our lives like a fine piece of jewellery, exquisitely crafted with time and patience to produce something that has the power to captivate focus is the key to unlocking a bit of modern mindfulness?

One of the most enduring maisons, Cartier is one brand that has long inspired this phenomenon. Whether it’s a Tank watch that catches the eye or a Love bracelet that warms the heart, there’s no mistaking the house’s excellence whenever we come across it. But it’s not just a name that elicits awe and wonder, but the precision and discipline in which it employs to realise its innovations that truly inspire.  

Take its Grain de Café collection. With a vision and curiosity that allows it to find the extraordinary in the ordinary, we see Cartier forge a muse out of the humble coffee bean. Just as it sits in nature, waiting to be plucked, its likeness takes shape in a collection of whimsical constructions that blossom with a free and rebellious spirit. We may not always think twice about a morning ritual like drinking coffee, but its own history is as rich and storied as much else that surrounds us—from the joints that keep our chairs together to the lights we switch on and off without a thought. 

But make no mistake, indulging in the beauty of ideas doesn’t mean we forget about function or the tangible effort that is often required to bring anything worthy of dreaming about into reality. A powerfully ambitious structure, Cartier’s Clash [Un]Limited series demonstrates this balance of tactile craft and boundless creativity. From the bold form of its links and distinctive lines to the faceted corners and bevelled dials, the way perspective is shifted within this timepiece is achieved only through the utmost care for skill and a graphic precision that cannot be understated. 

As we come to see, to take a bold risk, one can only find conviction in taking the time to do it right and appreciating its process—something that is painstakingly exemplified in Cartier’s Indomptables collection. With this ten-piece high jewellery set, Cartier plays on wild encounters—calling upon its menagerie of powerful emblems and merging them to create something entirely new and unexpected. In bracelets, necklaces, and watches, two animals are blended in contrast. While their heads stay true to their image, their bodies are transformed: the scales of the crocodile adorn the zebra, which passes on its stripes to the panther. Elsewhere, the giraffe and tiger exchange their skins, which turns the brand’s figurations on its heads—an endeavour that could not have been perceived had the maison not pored over every minute detail.

Elsewhere, Cartier introduces its Panthère de Cartier bag. 

From the sensuality of its curves, which bestows generous volume, its seamless fluidity of shape and fabric, and its radical panther head design in mesmerising contrast, the cross-body unites the art of fine leather with the house’s jewellery-making savoir-faire. 

The Tressage collection reinterprets the house’s signatures to create a hybrid piece merging Cartier design—stemming from the influence of Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s first female creative director—and a Parisian fashion stylist. Gathering in a movement of structures, the beads roll over the skin as if responding to the body’s rhythms. Volumes are amplified as a testament to Toussaint’s singular vision to pursue beauty through precious metals and stones—and the indelible imprint her taste left on the house.

With Cartier, no detail is spared, no effort left out, or moment rushed in order to live up to its legacy of craftsmanship—and oh, how it shows. 

So, what if we took note? Made ceremony of a morning tea, considered the craft in its complexities or luxuriated in doing things until we got it right? We’re all guilty of cutting corners, taking the express route for the sake of convenience, only to wind up lost or rushed or grasping at cheap substitutes. But as Cartier has demonstrated throughout its legacy of fine craftsmanship, true excellence comes from intention that is followed through and taking your time, even for the small things. 

CREATIVE DIRECTION: MARNE SCHWARTZ & DANÉ STOJANOVIC 
PHOTOGRAPHY: NIKLAS HAZE
FASHION DIRECTION: ANNA CASTAN
HAIR: JEAN LUC AMARIN
MAKEUP: ANNA SADAMORI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: JEAN MARC MONDELET
FASHION ASSISTANT: CHRISTIAN MARCHESICH
MODEL: MEI J / MAKERS, YEJIN & CYNTHIA / SELECT

DISCOVER CARTIER’s COLLECTIONS HERE.

TOP BANNER IMAGE: INDOMPTABLES ZEBRA WATCH IN WHITE GOLD, BLACK LAQUER, BLACK SPINEL, ONYX, EMERALDS, DIAMONDS AND QUARTZ, SHOP NOW, CLASH [UN]LIMITED BRACELET IN WHITE GOLD, ONYX AND DIAMONDS, SHOP NOW, CLASH DE CARTIER RING XL IN RHODIUMIZED WHITE GOLD, TAHITIAN PEARLS, ONYX AND DIAMONDS, SHOP NOW, PANTHÈRE DE CARTIER RING IN WHITE GOLD, SAPPHIRE SPOTS, SUGARLOAF-CUT BLUE CHALCEDONY AND DIAMONDS, SHOP SIMILAR, CARTIER

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