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What You Need To Know About The Cartier Exhibition In Canberra

Royal tiaras galore

After months of anticipation, the Cartier Canberra exhibition was officially opened by the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) from 30th March until 22nd July 2018.

The exhibition featured more than 300 items of jewellery, including pieces owned by royals and Hollywood celebrities. Princess Grace of Monaco’s 10.48-carat engagement ring and Elizabeth Taylor’s incredible platinum, gold and Burmese ruby necklace both feature in the collection, as well as several pieces loaned by Queen Elizabeth.

It also included several pieces loaned from private collections and not before seen in Australia.

But perhaps the biggest drawcard? The tiara that the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, wore during her 2011 wedding to Prince William. 

Kate Middleton wearing a Cartier tiara on her wedding day in 2011.

To celebrate the exhibition’s opening in Canberra, Cartier hosted an exclusive black-tie dinner with special guest Naomi Watts and celebrities such as newlyweds Nicole Warne and Edwina Bartholomew

“This particular collection of pieces is quite astounding,” Watts said.

“You see not only these fantastic pieces but the story behind who wore them and what was happening at that time. It really makes it such a powerful experience.”

A Cartier necklace from Canberra's NGA exhibition in 2018.

“In [the exhibition], you’re travelling through time,” she continued. “You have the Egyptian collection, pieces that were attached to corsets, tiaras…it’s all there.”

Cartier: The Exhibition was in Canberra from 30th March to 22nd July 2018. If you missed out on visiting the NGA, you can view the Cartier Canberra exhibition’s digital archives on the National Gallery of Australia website.

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