Cartier legends say this New York flagship store was bought for a string of pearls in 1917. Now, nearly 100 years later, the Fifth Avenue mansion has undergone renovations to bring brilliance back to the iconic landmark. The jeweler worked with French architect Thierry Despont to return the mansion to its former luxury.
The Princess Grace Salon at the Cartier Mansion on Fifth Avenue.
The mansion was built in 1905 for fancier Morton Freeman Plant. After a decade of living at the Fifth Avenue location, Plant and his wife Maisie believed the area was over-commercialized and set their sites uptown. Cartier saw an opportunity upon learning Maisie’s admiration of an extremely rare double strand pearl necklace. The necklace featured 128 perfectly matched natural pearls, an extreme rarity valued at $1 million in 1916 — that’s the equivalent of nearly $18.5 million in 2016! Cartier offered a trade, the necklace and an additional $100 for the mansion, which the Plants accepted.
The building was last renovated in 2001 and posed a unique challenge as an official New York City landmark. The restoration took two and half years and was finally revealed on Sept. 8th with a glamorous event during New York Fashion Week. Guests attending the event included new brand ambassador Sofia Coppola, Rooney Mara and other celebrities, along with performances by the New York City Ballet, Kacy Hill and others.
The Oak Room at the Cartier Mansion on Fifth Avenue.
The restoration sought to combine a modern shopping experience with the luxurious atmosphere of a Parisian mansion. The space is better organized in six floors. On the ground level, the most iconic jewelry collections, like the Love, Trinity and Juste Un Clou collections are featured. The second floor is called the Pierre Cartier Salon which is where you can view and order a custom Cartier diamond engagement rings and view the Cartier high jewelry line.
The third floor houses men’s and women’s watches with the Santos-Dumont lounge and Andy Warhol salon. Accessories, leather goods and fragrances are found on the fourth floor along with the servicing department. The fifth floor is a workshop where master craftspeople work on the newest pieces. Finally, the sixth floor features an exhibition space and terrace.
View More Rooms Below
The Andy Warhol Salon
The Accessories Salon
The Elizabeth Taylor Salon
Photo Credit: cartier.com / artnet.com / hodinkee.com