Why Is Cartier So Expensive? The Top 5 Reasons
Cartier is one of the top luxury jewelry houses in the world, with a whole plethora of gorgeous pieces, but why is Cartier so expensive? We’ve got all the answers!
If you love luxury jewelry, Cartier is a must-have brand in your jewelry box with their rich history and a wide range of beautiful necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, and watches on offer.
Cartier jewelry may look incredible, but you will also notice that the price tags are quite high, with bracelets ranging from $610 to $330,000+ while necklaces from Cartier start at $610 and retail for upwards of $372,000.
If you are thinking of picking a Cartier piece, you may be why the price tag is so high and why is Cartier so expensive. That’s where we come in with the top reasons behind the expensive prices, so you know exactly what you are paying for. We have also included a few Cartier pieces that we think are worth the money and deserve a place in your jewelry box!
Why is Cartier so expensive?
There are many different reasons why Cartier is so expensive, so we are going to break it down into the 5 main aspects that have an effect on the price of Cartier jewelry so you can clearly see why Cartier pieces have a high price tag.
1. Materials
The materials used by Cartier are one of the biggest reasons why these pieces will cost so much. Cartier is world-renowned for their luxury, high-quality jewelry, and they use top standard materials to craft these pieces. The materials used by Cartier include 18-karat yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold, as well as platinum, which are all pretty pricey materials which has a significant effect on the final price tag of a necklace or ring.
The 18-karat part of the material means the gold is 75% solid gold and 25% mixed alloys – this ratio is specifically chosen to ensure a luxurious look but durability too since 100% pure gold would be soft and easily scratched.
You will also see many Cartier products set with diamonds, which have been specifically chosen as the fall between certain points on the scale of clarity, cut, and color. All the diamonds used by Cartier have been graded per GIA standards, with clarity between IF and VS2, while the color grading has to be between D and H for a colorless finish. These high-quality diamonds will all push up the price of Cartier jewelry.
Some of the fine jewelry from Cartier is set with many other precious stones, including emeralds, rubies, opals, onyx, and spinels – these precious gemstones are very expensive, therefore any jewelry set with these stones will have a high price tag.
All of these expertly sourced gemstones, diamonds, and precious metals are top quality and therefore cost a lot of money, which is why Cartier jewelry is so expensive.
2. Craftsmanship
The expert craftsmanship that goes into creating these gorgeous pieces also impacts the price tag of Cartier watches and jewelry. All Cartier watches are made in La Chaux-De-Fonds in Switzerland by highly-trained craftsmen to ensure a high-quality finish that will really stand the test of time.
The jewelry is made in the Cartier workshops that are situated across Europe. The Cartier bracelets, for example, are made in France, Germany, and Switzerland through a meticulous process to guarantee each bracelet has an impeccable finish. Y
ou will also find that some Cartier pieces are made in Italy and the United States by artisans who have spent hours in training in order to create these intricate and innovative designs with such precious metals. The hours and expert craftsmanship that goes into all Cartier products cost a lot, which pushes up the price of all Cartier pieces.
3. History
The rich history and heritage of the brand also have a significant effect on the price tag of Cartier jewelry. Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier when he took over the workshop of his master Adolphe Picard. Then the Cartier company was taken over by Louis-Francois Cartier’s son, Alfred Cartier in 1874, but it was in the 1890s that Cartier began to gain prominence, when Alfred’s sons, Louis, Pierre, and Jacques took over from their father.
Louis Cartier was the designer during this period and created many of the incredible designs that the brand is still well-known for – including the Tank watch and the ‘Tutti Frutti’ collection that featured brightly colored jewels.
These designs helped Cartier to become a world-renowned brand and caught the attention of royalty, including King Edward VII of Great Britain who said Cartier was “the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers”. Cartier has also received royal warrants from the royal families of Spain, Portugal, and Serbia.
Now that Cartier was one of the best jewelry brands in the world, they hired more and more incredible jewelry designers to create the stunning designs we know and love today, including Aldo Cipullo, who was hired in the 1960s and designed both the LOVE bracelet and the Juste Un Clou bracelet.
In the 21st century, Cartier is one of the most prestigious jewelry manufacturers, with more than 200 stores in over 125 countries and three historic Cartier stores, known as ‘Temples’, in London, New York City, and Paris. This long history which includes creating jewelry for royalty, creating the best designs, and researching high-quality materials has an impact on the expensive price of Cartier jewelry.
4. Celebrities
There are many, many celebrities who have been seen in Cartier jewelry over the years, which not only gives Cartier a high-fashion, luxurious reputation but also causes more demand for Cartier pieces, which in turn pushes up the price.
Cartier items have been seen on the likes of Sophia Loren, Angelina Jolie, Ali McGraw, Steve McQueen, Dua Lipa, Anne Hathaway, and Sienna Miller, and the brand even sold a 69-carat diamond to Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, which is now known as the Taylor-Burton diamond.
Many members of different royal families have been seen in Cartier jewelry and watches, including Princess Diana, Kate Middleton, Princess Grace of Monaco, and Queen Letizia of Spain. These associations with celebrities and royalty for decades mean Cartier can charge a lot for their jewelry.
5. Exclusivity and status
The brand’s association with famous figures has played an important part in making Cartier jewelry instantly recognizable as a luxury piece that many people want to wear. This has made Cartier jewelry a status symbol that symbolizes good taste, exclusivity, and wealth, which is why the prices are so high.
The Love collection and Juste Un Clou collection, in particular, are some of the most high-recognizable pieces from the brand that symbolize wealth and luxury. To ensure these Cartier pieces continue to represent these concepts, the brand gives the items an expensive price tag so very few people can buy a Cartier piece, and those who do have to be wealthy – this ensures the exclusivity of Cartier jewelry.
Best-Selling Cartier pieces
Here are some of our favorite Cartier pieces, with a classic, timeless look, that you really need in your jewelry collection! Plus, Cartier jewelry really retains its value and are excellent heirloom pieces, which is why you really need to pick up a piece from this brand.
1. Bracelets
The Cartier Love bracelet is one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable pieces of jewelry out there – with a simple, minimalist look that means it will suit so many different outfits. Available in yellow gold, pink gold, and white gold, there is an option for everyone!
The Cartier Juste Un Clou bracelet is just as versatile and wearable, but with a more striking, unique look. This bracelet, which is meant to look like a nail wrapped around the wrist is available in a variety of different metals and with optional diamond embellishments.
2. Necklaces
This Cartier Trinity pendant is a great everyday piece to add a little extra glam to your look. At the end of a double rose gold chain, sits three intertwined rings of white, yellow, and pink gold for an utterly gorgeous look.
We love this Amulette de Cartier Station Necklace that will add some sparkle to work and evening looks. The pink gold chain is decorated with black onyx amulettes, with a diamond sitting in the center for a striking finish.
3. Rings
If you are looking for something a little more unique and edgy, this Clash De Cartier Ring is exactly what you need! The 18-karat rose gold ring has a riveted stud band that circles around the finger for a bold, eye-catching look.
This Cartier Lanieres Ring is a staple piece of jewelry that everyone needs in their collection. The ring has a minimalist look, engraved with the Cartier logo, which means it looks great on its own for a casual look or is stacked with lots of other rings for more of a glam finish.
4. Earrings
These Cartier C de Cartier Earrings will bring plenty of sparkle to your outfit, with the diamond embellishments that decorated one of the C logos. The earrings are made from 18-karat white gold and have a chic and stylish look.
The Cartier D’Amour Earrings are a must-have in your jewelry box, with a simple look that can be worn every day. These classic rose gold studs hold a glittering diamond in the center to luxurious finish to any outfit!
We hope you have found this article answering the question of why is Cartier so expensive, helpful! For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.
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