Cartier was famously referred to as “the jeweler of kings and king of jewelers,” by King Edward VII, and though monarchs aren’t prevalent, the jeweler still outfits royalty. This legacy and reputation makes Cartier one of the most sought after jewlery brands in the world. Modern day royalty and celebrity alike are often spotted wearing the French jeweler’s creations on and off the red carpet. Check out five of our favorite celebrities who love Cartier.

1. Angelina Jolie

Angelina is often spotted wearing her Cartier Tank Louis. This particular model was worn by Louis Cartier himself and it’s a watch he considered one of his finest accomplishments. This Art Deco classic features a rectangular, 18K gold dial with an alligator strap.

2. Naomi Watts

The Panthere motif is one of the fiercest icons in the jewelry world. It’s no wonder that Naomi Watts chose the bold bestial bracelet to the 24th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Gala. Watts is also among the long list of celebrities that wears the Love bracelet too.

3. Kylie Jenner

The youngest member of the Kardashian crew has recently become a favorite among the younger generation. Kylie is known for her Instagram account where she often shares her love of Cartier. Often, she can be found wearing four Love bracelets — worth over $40,000 — at once and stacks of Love rings.

4. Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o is widely known for her keen sense of style, so she turned many heads when she showed up to the 2014 Met Gala with an elaborately embroidered Prada dress. She also chose to accessorize with a remarkable Cartier necklace. She wore the vintage emerald necklace, circa 1906, as a headpiece.

5. The Duchess of Cambridge

Finally, our last Cartier enthusiast is more royalty than celebrity. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, known as the wife of Prince William, is known for her classic and elegant style. She’s often spotted wearing Cartier pieces, like the Ballon Blue. She even wore a Cartier-created tiara for her wedding to the Prince.

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We are familiar with the 1970s classics Love collection and Juste un Clou. The Cartier Tank and Ballon Bleu are luxury staples found on the wrists of the most fashionable women. The Panthere collection is an unforgettable brand icon adopted as the brand’s mascot. However, Cartier is still releasing new collections that could, perhaps, become as coveted and ubiquitous as the most successful of the jewelers history. Here’s a look at three of the newest Cartier jewelry and watch collections released in the past two years.

1. Cle de Cartier

At the 2015 SIHH Cartier released the newest collection to add to its watch arsenal. Cartier is known for its unique crown and case shapes and the Cle is no different. The collection gets its name from the French word for key, inspired by the shape of the crown which turns like the kind of ket that was once used to wind mechanical watches.

The design itself is refined, elegant and distinctly Cartier. The watch features a more subtle version of the Roadster’s tonneau case shape with the round dial of the Ballon Bleu. The case is also curved to lay comfortably on the wrist. The timepiece also features the Cartier 1847 MC movement, a new movement created in-house for this watch.

2. Etourdissant

Etourdissant is a new high jewelry collection from Cartier that evokes the vintage vibrance of the haute joaillerie of the early 20th century. This collection travelled the world as in a public exhibition unseen from the maison ever before. In English, etourdissant roughly means stunning, dazzling and astonishing — the perfect word to describe the pieces of the collection.

The pieces of Etourdissant feature bright and opulent gemstones in indulgent and lavish arrangements. Hues of blues, pinks, reds and greens are unrestrained and displayed brightly. The collection, though entirely new, featured motifs from Cartier’s rich history. Bright rubies and sapphires, combined with carved emeralds brought the jeweler’s Tutti Frutti style back to life. The iconic panther motif also found it’s way in new design and encrusted with gemstones.

3. Amulette de Cartier

Perhaps more affordable and wearable for the everyday, the Amulette de Cartier collection is a lucky addition to the Cartier crew. This simple necklace may have been added in attempt to keep up with the charm trend, but Cartier always delivers above and beyond the competition.

Cartier calls the charm a magical talisman, or an item that is believed to bring good luck to the possessor. The small charm is shaped like a padlock and made of semi-precious gemstones like lapis lazuli, malachite, carnelian and more. Cartier is a master of symbolic jewelry design, most known for the Love collection. The padlock design closes and symbolizes the wearer unlocking their innermost wishes.

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Cartier is known for its timeless designs, present in the fashion world for decades. The Love collection has been successful for over 40 years and the Panthere collection for a century. The only thing that’s changed is the way the iconic pieces are styled. Keep reading to find four new ways to wear your favorite pieces.

1. Stacking Bracelets

This trend is one of the most fun and creative ways to wear your favorite pieces. If you own a Love bracelet, this style got even easier. The Cartier icon is perfect for adding a simple layer to your favorite stack. This piece is so versatile, it compliments nearly any other piece it’s paired with — watches and bracelets alike.

Since it’s spring, we like the colorful pop of color with a sunny and golden Love bracelet. The Love bracelet is quite the staple and once you own it, it’s easy to mix and match your accessories at any price point. Try a stack with different textures, like a leather Hermes bracelet. Since the love bracelet is so simple in design, you can also choose bracelets with a more decorative design.

2. Multiples

Thanks to certain celebrities, the Love bracelet has reached a height of fame never seen before. It’s even been recently announced as the most often searched jewelry item. In the past, many celebrities merely wore the item as a symbol of their commitment to a significant other. Now younger, fashion-forward celebs have made the piece a high-fashion accessory must-have.

Though not everyone has multiple Love bracelets and rings, this look is simple for those who do. Before, you might have opted to wear only one at once, now try wearing them stacked on top of each other. If you only have one Love bracelet or ring, then it’s still possible to achieve a similar look by finding another simple and similarly sized bangle bracelet or band ring.

3. The Statement Piece

The past few years have seen the rise of the statement piece. From necklaces to earrings, there’s always a need for the biggest, boldest accessory to finish your look. Cartier has a long history of creating elaborate gem-set pieces, making the jeweler the perfect choice for an updated look.

Any bold bracelet, necklace or ring will do. Cartier’s Trinity collection boasts large, pendant necklaces perfect for this look. We even saw a dupe of the above-pictured necklace featured at Givenchy’s Spring 2016 RTW runway show. This season, go oversized and bright to make your statement.

4. Elegant Staples

Finally, Cartier does elegance like no other. Some things never go out of style and that includes classic accessories. For a formal event or occassion where you would like to present your most sophisticated self, then go for a simple timepiece from Cartier with minimal accessories.

Today, fast fashion is favoring large and oversized watches, but for a true show of class without exaggeration or gaudiness, a small and refined Cartier watch is the perfect choice. The Tank has been seen on the wrist of first ladies like Michelle Obama and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The Ballon Bleu can be spotted on the wrists of royalty like Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. We are partial to the vintage elegance of the tonneau-shaped watch like the above-pictured timepiece.

In 1940, Bulgari debuted their iconic Serpenti timepiece collection. Since then the Italian jewelry brand has expanded their watch offerings, introducing the geometric LVCEA, the bold BVLGARI BVLGARI, and hallmark B.ZERO1 watch collections. These famous and popular watches are highly coveted—and therefore extremely prone to being counterfeited.

If you’re in the market for a Bulgari watch, read this first to learn how to spot a fake.

1. Watch Markings & Warning Signs

Fake Bulgari watches can be extremely difficult to spot. However simply cross-referencing images of authentic Bulgari watches with the one in question will quickly illuminate warning signs. Start with the easy-to-spot mistake: the spelling of Bulgari. Bulgari always prints their logo as the Roman-lettered BVLGARI, never Bvlgari (in lowercase letters) or Bulgari. Then move onto finer details which are harder for counterfeiters to replicate. If there are traces of adhesive or misaligned text, these are strong warning signs your watch could be fake. Misshapen or askew hands and hour markers are also red flags your Bulgari watch is not real.

2. Seller Information and Location

Thoroughly research the watch seller. If the person is local, ask to visit their storefront or arrange a meeting to review the item in person.

If the seller is online, read their customer reviews. If the reviews are terse, vague or very similar in language, they may not be real reviews at all—possibly even penned by the seller themselves.

Also study the seller’s website and the URL specifically. The URL should not be a close misspelling of Bulgari. It is common for counterfeiters to capture traffic mis-directed from a misspelling Bulgari in their search.

Within the website, the seller’s contact information should be immediately available. And on a similar note, consider your personal correspondence with the seller; send an initial inquiry and weigh their response. If they’re pressuring you to purchase quickly, deflecting your questions, or only providing ambiguous answers, you should move on.

3. Research the Market Value

When researching your desired watch, compare the prices for the same watch model across a variety of websites. There are three factors that cause extreme variance in the price of your timepiece: the model, the year, and the item’s condition. A Bulgari watch may be an older model but in excellent condition and therefore more expensive than a newer model in a more-worn condition. Try and align your price-comparison shopping with the same make, model and overall state as the Bulgari watch you’re eyeing.

Once you have an idea of the general market value, compare the quoted price. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Counterfeiters invest a surprising amount of money and time into producing convincing Bulgari replicas, and the better the fake, the higher the price. This can often mislead potential buyers into believing they’re receiving an amazing deal.

4. An Expert Opinion

While these first three tips will only help you spot—and stay away from—a fake Bulgari watch, the only way to know with 100% certainty your watch is genuine is to seek an expert opinion. Professional appraisers can ensure your watch and all its components are authentic Bulgari.

If you have further questions regarding TrueFacet’s authentication process, contact our concierge representative here.

Since 1948, Pomellato has changed the world’s attitude of fine jewelry and luxury itself. Though, this brand is relatively discreet and understated, it has made an undeniable impression on the accessibility, prevalence and opinion of fine jewelry for everyday wear. Keep reading to learn more about this influential brand’s beginnings and rise to success.

In 1967 Pino Rabolini founded Pomellato with a single idea: to create pret-a-porter fine jewelry. Before, it wasn’t common to take fine jewelry from day to night and wearing fine gems was not seen as a fashion statement, but as a status symbol. Using large, colored semi and semi-precious stones, Pomellato created bold designs for a contemporary and fashionable woman.

The name Pomellato comes from “cavillino pomellato,” which is a translation of spotted pony. Founder Rabolini came from a family of goldsmiths, giving him experience working with fine metal for jewelry setting. The Pomellato brand quickly became a luxury staple for Italian women before the brand expanded globally. Today, Pomellato is one of the top five European jewelers according to sales.

In the 1990s, Pomellato began working with colorful stones, precious and semi-precious alike. The use of semi-precious stones was uncommon in fine jewelry and Pomellato revolutionized the industry. Not only did this move allow for the use of more color combinations, but it allowed more women to access luxury jewelry due to the lower price point.

The Nudo collection is perhaps the best example of the brand’s innovation in design and material. The collection also features some of the most identifiable Pomellato designs. The innovation lies in the setting; Pomellato submerged the stone partially and without a claw. This, coupled with creative cuts and a minimal band, allowed the colorful gems to shine at the forefront.

In 1994, Pomellato created a secondary brand that would later become the most profitable for their brand. The brand launched DoDo. The brand, named for the extinct bird, features silver, gold and diamond animal charms, each with a specific meaning. Part of the proceeds go to the Italian World Wildlife Fund.

Photo Credit: nytimes.com / pomellato.com

Baselworld, the largest watch show of the year, never fails to showcase the very best that the world of haute horlogerie has to offer. With hundreds of new dials, straps, movements and models, every brand in the business is well represented. This year’s show has just wrapped and while MANY different watches caught our eye, we’re counting down our top 5 favorite debuts from the top watch brands.

1. ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA

Would this round-up really be complete without including a Rolex watch? Definitely not! This iconic watch is well known in the watch world and this year, Rolex went an extra step and by releasing the Daytona in stainless steel with a new Cerachrom bezel.The watch remains 40 mm with the superb caliber 4130. This steel Daytona will be priced at $13,000 once it is released.

2. CHANEL MONDIEUR

Chanel introduced a whopping 42 new timepieces at Baselworld 2016 but our favorite is most definitely the Monsieur de Chanel. This watch marks the first ever men’s timepiece released by the French fashion house and it took five years to develop! The Monsieur also contains Chanel’s first in-house movement, the Calibre 1, which contains 170 movements.

3. OMEGA SPEEDMASTER

Omega released an entire collection of Speedmaster moon phase watches at Baselworld this year including the new Omega Speedmaster Master Chronometer Chronograph Moonphase watch. This time, they’ve opted for a new movement, the calibre 9904, made up of 368 components as well as 54 jewels. There is also a limited edition platinum version with a stunning red liquid metal bezel!

4. ULYSSE NARDIN GRAND DECK MARINE

This Grand Deck Marine Tourbillon by Ulysse Nardin is certainly one of the RAREST releases of them all! One of the most buzzed-about timepieces at this year’s show, the power reserve in the Christophe Claret-designed movement is 52 hours, the case is 18K white gold, and only 18 pieces will be made. The dial is made of inlaid wood and features a curved design intended to resemble the deck of a classic yacht. It will retail for $280,000.

5. HUBLOT UNICO ITALIA BIG BANG

Definitely our most vibrant watch on the list, this Big Bang Unico Italia Independent is a partnership between Italia Independent and Hublot. The Unico Italia Big Bang case is constructed with Texalium, a high-performance fiberglass that is coated with 99.99% pure aluminum. The watch is being released in an artistic range of shades, we love the bright blue version below but you can also buy one in green or black versions, which are being released in limited edition runs of 500, 250 and 250 pieces respectively.

Shop all of these top watch brands and more on Truefacet! Guaranteed authentic.

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The Baselworld watch fair is the premier even in the watch industry and it’s just around the corner. From March 17-24, the world’s top watchmakers will showcase their newest releases and we can’t help but get excited. We decided to take a look back at some of our favorites from the past few years. Keep reading to see some of the best watches released since 2010.

2010: Girard-Perregaux Ladyhawke Tourbillon

Boucheron and Girard-Perregaux partnered to create a timepiece remarkable in design and in watchmaking. The timepiece, unveiled at Baselworld in 2010, features a dazzling, high-jewelry exterior housing an impressive movement. The watch features over 25 carats of diamonds and rubies.

The movement, inspired by one presented by Constant Girard-Perregaux at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1889, for which he won a gold medal. The tourbillon is composed of 72 parts and weighs just 0.3 grams. It also has a 72-hour power reserve.

2011: Harry Winston Opus Eleven

The Opus collection was introduced in 2000, originally released in limited numbers. Each year, a new watch is released in collaboration with Harry Winston and one chosen watchmaker. This year Denis Giguet helped create the Opus 11. What they created is nothing short of amazing. The watch only displays the hour, minutes and seconds, but the movement is extremely complex.

At each hour, the face of the dial comes to life in a way that must be seen to understand. Made of 500 components, the movement takes a highly-skilled watchmaker five weeks to assemble. Only 111 were made and sold from $230,00 to $290,000.

2012: Rolex Sky-Dweller

This watch is most remarkable as Rolex’s most complex watch yet. It’s also notable because Rolex doesn’t often add new models or complications to its collection. The watch features Rolex’s first annual calendar and a central, rotating disc for a second timezone.

Rolex may be the GMT master, but the Sky-Dweller featured the dual timezone function with an actual complication instead of the typical rotating bezel. Perhaps the most interesting feature of this model isn’t one of the complications, but how you set them. The bezel rotates to set the date, time and second time.

2013: Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon

The Speedmaster Professional is perhaps the most beloved Omega to date. NASA-approved for a moon landing, the Speedmaster Professional is a watch that needs no updates. However, Omega decided to get creative with its non-Professional Speedmaster. Still true to its roots, their 2013 edition is called the Dark Side of the Moon.

This update is quite the upgrade in durability with the case, dial and bezel all in ceramic. The most obvious feature of this watch is the new all-black look which Omega says was inspired by the Apollo 8 astronauts who were the first to see the dark side of the moon.

2014: Patek Philippe 5990 Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph

In 2014, the Nautilus got an update with a new complication added to the industrial and iconic sports watch. The complication in question – dual time zones. Patek is more than qualified to produce the highest quality movements, and adding this complication the Nautilus was next logical addition to the sports watch.

It wasn’t until 2006 that Patek Philippe added a chronograph movement to the Nautilus. The rugged design, sturdy steel case and now, the second time zone, make the watch perfect for the adventurous. The watch features date, chronograph, travel time and a day-night indicator. The watch sells retail for about $57,000.

2015: Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time

If you closed your eyes and envisioned a Calatrava from Patek Philippe, you would not picture this. Most Patek Philippe designs are conservative and high brow. While the price is something you would expect from the iconic brand, this particular timepiece is something you would expect from Panerai or IWC.

The jumbo-sized pilot watch does, however, house a Patek movement and it was crafted by the best. The watch is a beautiful and refined design of the classic pilot look. The watch is simple in its readability and features two times zones and a day-night indicator. The piece may not be what you would expect from Patek, but it’s still a high-quality luxury sports watch. The retail value: $50,000.

Photo Credit: thewatchquote.com / luxurytyme.com / professionalwatches.com / dreamchrono.com / hautetime.com

We take a look at the top Italian jewelers and how they honor their Italian heritage through their designs and manufacturing traditions.

1. Bulgari

Bulgari is arguably the most well-known Italian jewelry brand. The brand’s history goes back to 1884 when Sotirio Voulgaris opened his first shop under the Bulgari name in Rome. The brand has since woven its Italian heritage into its core identity and designs. When the design house redesigned its logo in 1932, the name Bulgari was stamped as BVLGARI, using the traditional Roman V in lieu of the U. When the brand would later introduce its B.Zero1 Collection, which prominently showcased the BVLGARI logo, the designers sited the Colosseum as their primary inspiration.

Similarly, Bulgari’s Serpenti motif draws from the seductive serpent characters of ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Its iconic Tubogas technique, used in its watches and jewelry designs, is a braided metal affect that also harkens back to the snake symbolism for wisdom, life, and eternity.

2. Buccelatti

Buccellati was founded in Milan in 1919 and is credited as being the first jewelry boutique in Largo Santa Margherita. Soon after Buccellati opened stores throughout Italy in Rome and Florence.

The house of Buccellati was honored with a commission by Pope Pius XII in 1949. After centuries of animosity between the Roman church and the Church of England, British royalty Princess Margaret made an official visit to the Vatican and Pope Pius XII. To commemorate this historic event, Buccellati designed a silver and ruby-encrusted portrait of the Madonna for Pope Pius XII to give to Princess Margaret.

Today the brand honors its tradition of incredible craftsmanship through its Unica Collection, one-of-a-kind intricate and exquisite pieces that evoke the romantic ideals of old Italian luxury. These handcrafted pieces are each uniquely designed around the brilliant gems and center stones. The hand-poured gold is richly textured with an elaborate engraving pattern to further heighten the individuality of every item in the collection. Despite the rarity of these pieces, the Unica collection accounts for 70% of Buccellati’s total annual sales.

3. Damiani

Damiani began in 1924 as a small family business, headed by patriarch Enrico Grassi Damiani, that specialized in diamond jewelry. His ornate designs quickly became a favorite among the Italian elite and noble families and the brand enjoyed increasing fame across Italy.

Today Damiani reigns as the leading brand in the Italian jewelry market, holding a record-setting 18 Diamonds International Awards. And even though it has become a publicly traded brand on the Italian stock exchange, it holds onto its family business tradition with the third generation of the Damiani family at the helm. The collection continues to be handcrafted in Italy and Damiani classifies itself as the “ambassador of Italian style.”

The brand’s most trademark design is the Metropolitan Dream Collection. Cast by Damiani’s master goldsmiths, the collection features a unique, raised texture symbolizing an urban skyline with diamonds sparkling with metropolitan glamour.

4. Roberto Coin

Established in Vicenza, Italy in 1977, Roberto Coin is a comparative newcomer, relative to the other Italian jewelers on this list. When the brand officially launched in 1996, Roberto Coin used a unique brand signature: a small ruby. Set on the inside of every piece, this hidden gem was a part of the ancient belief that wearing a ruby promoted long life, health and happiness.

The namesake designer Roberto Coin credits traditional Italian jewelers as his inspiration. In turn, Coin founded the Italian factory La Quinta Stagione and brought together the best Italian designers and craftsmen to produce his collection. For his own part, Coin is a prolific designer and releases over 600 new designs every year.

The luxury house’s signature collection is the Appassionata. It took Coin two years to perfect the golden, mesh-like weave which has the apparent texture and movement of fabric. The Appassionata collection was also the first collection to include Coin’s ruby signature.

The second most-popular Roberto Coin collection is the Animalier. The quirky collection features different animals as sculptural rings and bracelets. However, the cute-factor should not overshadow the incredible attention to detail and expertise required to produce these uniquely detailed rings and bracelets.