Dearest glamorous darlings,

To celebrate Cartier's upcoming exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, we embark on a journey alongside the maison’s most iconic emblem: the Panther. Discover the visionary woman behind it all—Jeanne Toussaint—whose bold spirit and artistry redefined high jewelry in the 20th century.

Before the panther prowled through Cartier’s creations, before its feline grace became the untamed emblem of the maison, Cartier had already earned its crown—the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers.

It was Edward VII who bestowed this title, declaring Cartier the official jeweler of the British court, a legacy sealed with a royal warrant in 1904. From the glittering tiaras of European empresses to the resplendent extravagance of India’s maharajas, Cartier was more than a jeweler—it was the guardian of royalty’s most dazzling treasures. The Maharaja of Patiala himself entrusted the house with a staggering 234-carat yellow diamond, asking not for mere ornamentation, but for a masterpiece that would blend the grandeur of India with the modernity of Art Deco.

Today, we step into the world of La Panthère where diamonds and onyx spoke the language of desire with dreams of freedom woven in platinum.

Let us begin to tell the story of the Panther.

Elegantly yours,

Carla Moulin

* The music in my podcasts is from Epidemic Sound, a royalty free music sharing site