Australian-exclusive Cartier exhibition features 300+ precious jewels, tiaras, necklaces, gemstones, iconic watches and more
Featuring 300+ resplendent and beautifully-crafted jewels, tiaras,
necklaces, brooches, timepieces, design drawings and more, the 2026
Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® presentation,
Cartier, is the largest exhibition on the
global jewellery house ever staged in Australia. Direct from London’s
Victoria & Albert Museum and opening exclusively in
Melbourne at NGV International on 12 June 2026, the exhibition explores
Cartier’s unparalleled reputation for design excellence, craftsmanship
and innovation through a dazzling selection of Cartier creations owned
and worn by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Rihanna, Princess
Margaret, The Duchess of Windsor, Dame Nellie Melba, the Maharaja of
Patiala, the Begum Aga Khan III, and American heiress
Barbara Hutton. The Melbourne-exclusive exhibition also
features many jewels and objects that have never-before-visited
Australia.
The exhibition charts the evolution and artistic legacy of the
jewellery house, including its transformation at the turn of the
twentieth century by brothers Louis, Pierre and
Jacques Cartier, grandsons of the house’s founder
Louis-François Cartier. The brothers established branches in Paris,
London and New York, creating the first internationally recognised
jewellery maison, and honed Cartier’s inimitable style by bringing
design and manufacturing in-house. With an enviable client list of
royalty and aristocracy, Cartier was described as ‘the jeweller of kings
and the king of jewellers’ by King Edward VII, who granted his Royal
Warrant in 1904. Cartier’s reputation later broadened thanks to the
devotion of leading creatives from the worlds of cinema, music and
fashion.
A major highlight of the exhibition will be a display of more
than 20 magnificent tiaras, a timeless symbol of royalty,
glamour and artistry – and some of Cartier’s most celebrated creations.
With symbolic links to the laurel wreaths of classical antiquity and
celestial halos, the tiara has been worn for centuries across cultures
from Asia to Europe. The spectacular display includes Cartier’s
celebrated Scroll tiara (1902), crafted in the house’s signature
‘Garland style’ and worn by Clementine Churchill at the
coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and by
Rihanna on the cover of W magazine in 2016.
Others include the Sun tiara of 1907 with a 32-carat fancy intense
yellow diamond in its centre; and the Art Deco diamond and platinum Halo
tiara of 1934, which was inspired by ancient Egypt and owned by
Her Highness the Begum Aga Khan III.
The exhibition includes a 1951 necklace gifted to Elizabeth
Taylor by her third husband and film producer, Mike
Todd, while on holiday in the French Riviera in 1957. The
necklace features a geometric latticework design of diamonds that
showcase seven Burmese rubies, exceptional for their size and matching
colour. Taylor herself described the necklace as ‘like the sun – lit up
and made of red fire.’ The exhibition also focuses on Australian opera
singer Dame Nellie Melba, who was an early client of
Cartier when the firm was becoming known internationally for its
‘Garland style’ jewels, often featuring floral swags and bows wrought in
platinum and precious gemstones. Pierre Cartier was a fan of Dame
Nellie, and a signed 1902 photograph of Melba, once owned by Pierre,
will feature in the exhibition along with necklaces and bodice ornaments
that the world-famous opera singer owned and wore both on and off the
stage.
On display will be an intricate diamond rose clip brooch (1938) worn
by Princess Margaret at her sister’s coronation, as
well as a major selection of exceptional jewels belonging to
Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor and wife of
former King Edward VIII. These include her famous Flamingo brooch
(1947), an extraordinary Bib necklace encrusted with diamonds, amethysts
and turquoise, and her 1949 Panther sapphire clip brooch which features
an impressive 152.35-carats cabochon sapphire.
Named for their colourful use of rubies, emeralds and blue sapphires,
a rich selection of Cartier’s iconic Tutti Frutti jewels will also
feature. Additionally, there will be a standout selection of Cartier
timepieces that showcase the jeweller’s industry-leading innovations in
watchmaking, alongside a selection of contemporary works featuring
Australian opals.
The never-before-seen exhibition design is a collaboration between
the NGV, Studio Sabine Marcelis and CLOUD, two multidisciplinary design
practices based in Rotterdam in The Netherlands. The exhibition design
will be inspired by colour, light and materiality, three elements that
are synonymous with the aesthetic qualities of Cartier’s jewellery. The
exhibition design will reflect Cartier’s expansive network of cultural
and gemological sources that inspire their jewellery creations.
Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV International, said,
“Cartier are world-renowned for their excellence in jewellery and
timepiece design and innovation – a reputation fostered by the three
entrepreneurial brothers Pierre, Louis and Jacques Cartier. This
exhibition tells the story of how they transformed their grandfather’s
jewellery business into one of the most prestigious international
jewellery houses with a clientele including royalty, high society and
movie stars. We’re indebted to our partner institution the V&A, for
their support of this Australian-exclusive exhibition, as well as key
lender Cartier.”
Helen Molesworth, Senior Curator of Jewellery, Victoria &
Albert Museum, London, shared, “Cartier is one of the most
famous jewellery houses in the world. This exhibition will explore how
Louis, Pierre and Jacques Cartier, initiated a strategy of original
design, exceptional craftsmanship and international expansion that
transformed the Parisian family jeweller into an international household
name. The V&A is delighted to tour its Cartier exhibition which
celebrates the pioneering achievements of Cartier and its transformative
ability to remain at the centre of culture and creativity for more than
a century. We are excited to be able to share with visitors of the NGV
some of Cartier’s most famous creations as well as revealing previously
unseen objects that further enrich our understanding of a jewellery
house that continues to influence the way we adorn ourselves today.”
Pierre Rainero, Director of Cartier Image, Style and
Heritage, commented “Building on the success
of its presentation at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the
NGV iteration of the Cartier exhibition will showcase pieces
never-before-seen in Australia. It promises to be an enlightening
experience for the public, offering a captivating journey into the world
of Cartier and its signature style, a living language in permanent
evolution. We hope that it will not only inspire delight and awe, but
also intellectual curiosity, fostering a deeper appreciation for jewelry
as a distinct and powerful artistic expression.”
The Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® exhibition Cartier will be on
display at NGV International from 12 June – 4 October 2026. Admission
fees apply. Information and tickets are available via the NGV website:
NGV.MELBOURNE
Exhibition created by the V&A in partnership with the
National Gallery of Victoria and in collaboration with Cartier.
