Cartier celebrates the centennial anniversary of its first design icon—the Trinity ring

That year, American Vogue proclaimed it to be the “new jewellery by Cartier” and dubbed it “Trinity”. The name took hold, and in the decades that followed, the three-band ring and bracelet were released in various iterations. In 1967, Cartier introduced seven bands to the collection and officially adopted the name Trinity in the 1997.

Owing to its unique design and the symbolism it projects, the ring remained popular with artists and celebrities in America and Europe throughout the years. Grace Kelly, Alain Delon, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Jacqueline Bisset, Nicole Kidman and Timothée Chalamet were all seen wearing the Cartier Trinity ring in different variations. The French poet and playwright Jean Cocteau was renowned for wearing two Trinity rings on his little finger, and legend has it that Louis Cartier designed the ring for him. But Cartier’s image, style and heritage director Pierre Rainero is quick to dismiss the myth, saying, “There’s no record because they didn’t collaborate. He was a public figure and was seen with [the ring]. Being a writer, poet, movie director, an incredible designer, he was an artist in many, many different ways. I think the magic of the ring fit totally with his image and resonates with his work. That’s why he became a kind of ambassador without any will from him and from us. And that’s how the legend was born.”

Since ancient times, the number three has been regarded as the perfect number, and Trinity’s three interlocking rings are full of meaning and sentiment. They not only refer to Louis and his two brothers, Pierre and Jacques, and how they established their legacy in Paris, London and New York but also serve as a symbol of love, friendship and fidelity.

“Jewellery is the only [object] with such symbolic potential because it’s the most intimate item that you wear on your body,” says Rainero. “So that defines a special relationship between you and the object.” In other words, the jewellery that you wear defines you and serves as a “symbolic projection of what is important in your life, whether it’s an attachment to someone else or a celebration of [important milestones].”

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In celebration of Trinity’s long-lasting power, Cartier marked its centennial anniversary with three magnificent fetes, commencing from New York’s Chelsea Hotel on February 1, followed by London’s Ladbroke Hall on February 5, and culminating at Petit Palais in Paris on February 7.

Tatler had the privilege of attending the celebrations in Paris, where notable names and friends of the maison, such as Vanessa Kirby, Rami Malek, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sofia Coppola, Emma Corin and Monica Bellucci, graced the event with their presence. The star-studded guest list also included Cartier’s Trinity ambassadors Jisoo, Jackson Wang, Paul Mescal, Yara Shahidi and Labrinth, who represent the new generation of tastemakers embodying Trinity’s universal values of unity and diversity.

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A collection of new Trinity creations were also unveiled in a bespoke pop-up space in the Marais district. As a nod to its evolution, Cartier released an XL version of the iconic ring and reissued the Trinity bracelet from the 2000s in a maximalist XL version.

A new square cushion-shaped version has also been introduced in the form of bracelets, pendants and rings in classic and large sizes. According to Rainero, the design is reminiscent of one of Cartier’s classic icons, the soft-squared Santos. But he assures us that this shape performs with the same ease as the round version, sliding over and under each other naturally as it rolls down the finger or wrist, and is very comfortable to wear.

Cartier goes one step further by launching a modular version of the Trinity, which can be worn as one wide, large band, or unravelled as three separate bands. This creates multiple ways to wear the same ring and gives it a contemporary twist.

Rainero believes that strong design is inherently tied to its ability to evolve over time. This not only allows for the introduction of new variations that breathe new life into the design, keeping it vibrant and fresh but also remains faithful to the original concept. The story of Trinity perfectly encapsulates this notion, and today, the evolution continues as they explore bold new designs, such as the square cushion-shaped version, which Rainero says “is even more daring and as magical and mysterious as the original one.”

He concludes, “It’s interesting to witness the younger generation’s interest in such designs, which [validates] the vision of our founders in conceiving a design that remains modern [and captivating] till today.”

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