Running now until the 4th October, the Cartier Winter Masterpieces exhibition is on display at the National Gallery Of Victoria in Melbourne.
When it comes to a storied history, few brands in the luxury world can compete with Cartier. Cartier is synonymous with luxury, and throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, the maison was (and still is) in high demand. From exclusive collections to bespoke, one-off, one-of-a-kind pieces crafted for Countesses and Maharajas, Cartier has never failed to stun.
This winter, making its way to Melbourne direct from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, Cartier opens exclusively at NGV from the 12th of June, 2026. Adapted and expanded for its Australian debut, the exhibition brings together almost 300 pieces, many of which have never been seen in Australia before.
Charting Cartier’s legacy of design, craftsmanship and technical innovation, the exhibition showcases an impressive collection of jewellery, watches and objects that have been owned and worn by some of history’s most recognisable figures. Among them are pieces associated with Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Rihanna, Andy Warhol, Princess Margaret, the Duchess of Windsor and Dame Nellie Melba, alongside creations commissioned by royalty and aristocracy, including the Maharaja of Patiala, Begum Aga Khan III, Daisy Fellowes and Barbara Hutton.
Head to NGV.vic.gov.au/exhibition/cartier for ticketing & information
The exhibition features some amazing pieces from the V&A and Cartier Collection, as well as key international loans from the British Museum, Qatar Museums, Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris, Collections of HSH the Prince of Monaco, Al Thani Collection and private lenders. Stepping through the exhibit, you can also see a massive array of archival material drawn from the Cartier Archives in Paris, London and New York, transporting you back in time over the 100+ years of jewellery and watches.
Watch Advice was in attendance at the Gala Opening, and had the chance to preview the full exhibition, along with listening to key talks from Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV, Nina Taylor, MP for Albert Park, and Cartier Oceania Managing Director, Thomas Crye.
A panel discussion was also held with the designers of the exhibition interior itself, Studio Sabine Marcelis and CLOUD, two multidisciplinary design practices based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on how colour, texture and light were used to create the atmosphere of the entire exhibit to tell the story of the pieces in each room, and to showcase the works in the best way possible.
Also, acclaimed film director George Miller, who is responsible for the blockbusters such as the Mad Max anthology, Happy Feet, Babe: Pig In The City, spoke at length about the way colour is used in his films, and drew parallels to how Cartier utilises colour and light to create some of its jewellery masterpieces.
Key Highlights
Walking through the exhibit, several pieces stood out to us, well, more than several. From amazing necklaces, to tiaras and of course, the clocks and watches we love so much. Here is just a selection of our favourite pieces, but out of over 300 works in the exhibit, it was hard to whittle it down.
In addition to the stunning jewellery on display, there is a range of watches from Cartier’s archives that are a must-see. while I won’t give too much away, here are some of the few that caught my eye wandering through the exhibit.
Now, we obviously can’t give away too much of the exhibit, plus, there are way too many pieces to list and photograph. So we recommend you see it for yourself in person. It is a ticketed event, so head to NGV.vic.gov.au/exhibition/cartier to find out more, opening times, and tickets.