Photo Credit: Photo by Barry Wetcher © 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
When you see Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter on the big screen June 8 in Ocean’s 8, these A-list ladies will be wearing Cartier exclusively.
Cartier is the action adventure film’s exclusive jewelry partner. For the brand, the decision to proceed with the project stems from its history of empowering women with the boldness to be themselves.
It was a challenge to create a very specific parure for the film’s ultimate heist. For this very special order, intended for a motion picture, Cartier mobilized the resources of its High Jewelry workshops situated rue de la Paix in Paris. The best jewelers were required to accomplish this feat in no more than eight weeks.
Photo Credit: Eric Bidou © Cartier
Cartier was also the exclusive on-site jeweler during filming at the Metropolitan Museum. For five consecutive nights, jewelry was loaned to those making cameo appearances in the movie with pieces ranging from Cartier Collection to current New or High Jewelry, as well as watches and accessories.
Prominently featured in the film, the Cartier Mansion, a New York City landmark, became the location of major scenes. For two days, the Mansion was closed to enable filming and its Salons were transformed into cinema sets. The exterior of the Mansion on 52nd Street is also featured in the film.
Pieces worn include the “Jeanne Toussaint” Necklace, a tribute to Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s Creative Director in the 1930s whose role was decisive in establishing the Maison’s stylistic identity. Above anyone else, she was the first woman to embody Cartier’s bold and fearless spirit. The original necklace was designed in 1931 for the Maharaja of Nawanagar by Jacques Cartier. Described as “the finest cascade of colored diamonds in the world,” it was, according to Jacques Cartier, “a superb realization of a connoisseur’s dream. This jewel no longer exists; however, Cartier preserved in its archives a design drawing and photographs of the piece and its owner. The creation sketch was used as a reference for the realization of the Toussaint necklace, which plays a pivotal character in the story.
Photo Credit: Photo by Barry Wetcher © 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
The necklace was adjusted to Anne Hathaway’s measurements and reduced by 15 to 20% of the original size, as it was initially designed for a man. Dismountable bezels were devised to successfully adapt the jewel to match Anne’s proportions. Thanks to their expertise, when the actress wore it for the first time in New York, the necklace fit her perfectly.
For the film—in which the Toussaint is comprised of flawless, colorless diamonds—the colored diamonds were replaced with zirconium oxides, a natural material, mounted on white gold. The necklace had to be solid enough to withstand frequent manipulations during filming. Meticulous attention was paid to the finishing of the settings and polishing, as close-ups would not allow for any imprecisions.
Photo Credit: Photo by Barry Wetcher © 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
