100 Years of Cartier's Panther

View Gallery 6 Slides Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Parisian style doyenne Jeanne Toussaint, a.k.a. La Panthre, "can be said to have revolutionized jewelry, and to have invented and kept alive the Cartier style," wrote photographer Cecil Beaton. Although the spotted motif, which was characteristic of the Art Deco designs of the 1920s, had appeared

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6 Slides

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1

The Beginning

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Parisian style doyenne Jeanne Toussaint, a.k.a. La Panthère, "can be said to have revolutionized jewelry, and to have invented and kept alive the Cartier style," wrote photographer Cecil Beaton. Although the spotted motif, which was characteristic of the Art Deco designs of the 1920s, had appeared on an onyx-and-diamond watch before Toussaint joined Maison Cartier, the panther—a daring choice to represent a woman—proved to be one of her most enduring inspirations.

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2

The Beginning

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A 1914 illustration by George Barbier for Cartier.

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3

Panther Women

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The panther went three-dimensional in 1948, with an order for a brooch for the Duchess of Windsor that featured an onyx-spotted gold cat crouching on an emerald cabochon.

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4

Panther Women

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María Félix, Daisy Fellowes, and Barbara Hutton were among the Panthère's elite clientele. Hutton, one of the world's richest heiresses, also had a glittering gold tiger brooch, bracelet, and earrings.

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5

The New Collection

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The 2014 anniversary collection fuses past and present, with bold rings, bracelets, and necklaces in traditional gemstone settings juxtaposed with geometric panther shapes. Employing meticulous sculpting, casting, stone-setting, and mounting techniques, the house's craftspeople create one-of-a-kind designs, with some pieces taking more than a year to finish.

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6

The New Panther Women

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The Cartier Panther continues to be a symbol for strong, empowered females today. Panthère de Cartier collection as seen on Miranda Kerr, Lady Gaga and Cara Delevingne.

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