The epitome of elegance and grandeur, the Cartier brand has firmly established its presence, featuring fine-contoured lines, elaborate hinges, and an opulent aesthetic. Today, the number of Maison-related stores has set a new standard, with around 200 stores across the globe.
Stepping out as a renowned manufacturer of prestigious glasses, the brand has anchored customer loyalty without opening independent eyewear boutiques. For instance, cartier eye glasses women can be purchased at brand outlets and curated retail shops without a hitch.
This article traces Cartier's success story, intending to catch a glimpse of the origins of eyewear as an epoch-making landmark in this upscale industry.
Cartier Eyewear: Back to The Roots
First, Cartier's optical jewelry boldly marked its appearance in 1897, exactly half a century after the company got off the ground. Among Cartier's preeminent optical works are a gold lorgnette covered with diamonds and rubies, tailor-made for Prince Lobanov in 1902.
Later, other exemplars were added, including a gold lorgnette with the diamond monogram of Grand Duke Vladimir, made in 1912; platinum glasses with diamonds for Prince Yusupov (1913); and a yellow gold lorgnette with an enamel tiger skin pattern, made for the Duchess of Windsor in 1954, all embracing the chic style of the epoch.
Cartier's eyewear is associated with the ongoing head-to-head constant rivalry between Coco Chanel and Jeanne Lanvin over who would bear the title of ultimatefashionista. Notably, it prompted the latter to commission her eyewear from Louis Cartier.
For this customized order, the jeweler conceptualized the Panthere model in white gold, encrusted with 127 sauvage diamonds, weighing 1.3 carats, and 429 white diamonds weighing 3.2 carats. Sapphires serve as the panthers' eyes, and while Jeanne Lanvin wore sports glasses, Mademoiselle Chanel was compelled to make do with lorgnettes.
These days, a solid Cartier eyewear collection, along with gold pieces and gemstone-encrusted pieces, is known to encompass frames and sunglasses clad in highly valued metals such as gold and platinum, ruthenium, and more.
Optical accessories took a breakthrough in 1983, with the creation of the first Lunettes stylish blueprint. It is worth mentioning that delicate metalwork, which ranged from old-school oval to rectangular shapes, was reminiscent of jewelry design elements.
Today, eyewear designers land at a time when panther-shaped decoration dominates the style. Quite a few models are embellished with the Cartier brand name in the form of the letter C (known as C Décor), appealing to the affiliation with the high-fashion jewelry house, which captivates with the impeccable style of its pieces.
Recognizable Eyewear Patterns to Embrace Originality
In 1983, Cartier initiated an eyewear collection—the prominent lunettes. In this assortment, designers managed to combine both product lines (Must and Vendôme) with two signature designs—Tank and Santos.
The pioneering models of classic spectacles were designed for a male audience only. Despite this flashy fact, Cartier's exclusively feminine lunettes came out three years later. By then, men's eyewear had as many as three designs: the conspicuous Laque was pushed forward by the Tank and Santos.
Since Cartier has always been held in high regard for its meticulous and exquisite work with gold, platinum, and silver, its eyewear division was not a matter of mass-production. It meant that each pair of lunettes was a true gem.
This tradition did not come to an end when the first Cartier reading eyeglass frames were introduced to the public in 1987. Two more sunglasses designs followed: the Tank Louis Cartier, designed for men, and the S = Sapphire with a sapphire inlay for women.
Indeed, it wouldn't be Cartier without its hallmark of quality—the panther. To consolidate these results, Lunette Panthere sunglasses were launched in 1989.
Cartier's Lunettes burst onto the industry scene in the 1990s, paving the way for the remarkable Boix Précieux collection in 1991. Since then, Cartier has begun to apply composite materials in dark glasses and frame designs.
In 1993, Cartier made a couple of major add-ons with hybrid frame designs (later Vertigo and Conquete). In the fall, two more rimless frame models were designed, and a year later, the Lunettes marked their appearance rimless.
Cartier DNA in Couture Eyewear
With a spotlight on Cartier's storied past, its present is on par, with original materials like Bubinga wood and Buffalo horn, all adorned by a playful approach to detail. The Maisons designer glasses go premium, frequently spotted on influencers, musicians, and actors, with Tom Cruise and Rihanna, among others.
Cartier eyewear is far more than correcting vision or hiding from the sunlight; it is a good way to express your persona. Ranging from vintage to modernistic models, their eyewear has the perfect pair to meet your requirements. The latest upgrade, the iconic screw accents on the temples, aims to escape mediocrity and make you stand out from the crowd.
For Cartier, accessories are not an addition, but the core of an image. These frames are like precious armor: discreet yet strong, elegant yet status-defining. Firmly holding its value for over 135 years, this everlasting eyewear manufacturer tends to exist in the present, without dismissing the past out of mind.
