Jewels Worn By Royals & Rihanna To Be Displayed At The V&A Next Year

Earlier this year, the V&A revealed its exhibition plans for 2025, including exhibitions delving into Marie Antionette, disability’s intersection with design, and world-famous jewellery house, Cartier. The latter will open first – in spring 2025 – showcasing opulent watches and pieces of jewellery borrowed from precious collections across the globe. Here’s what you need to know – plus how to get tickets.

The V&A (Getty Images)

V&A Cartier Exhibition: Dates, Tickets & What’s On Display

Following the V&A’s unprecedented success with its Chanel exhibition this year, the South Kensington museum is delving into another affluent design house in 2025: Cartier. ‘Cartier is one of the most famous jewellery houses in the world,’ say exhibition curators Helen Molesworth and Rachel Garrahan. ‘This exhibition will explore how Louis, Pierre and Jacques Cartier, together with their father Alfred, adopted a strategy of original design, exceptional craftmanship and international expansion that transformed the Parisian family jeweller into a household name.

‘With its world-class jewellery collection, the V&A is the perfect stage to celebrate the pioneering achievements of Cartier and its transformative ability to remain at the centre of culture and creativity for more than a century,’ they add. ‘We are excited to be able to share with visitors some of Cartier’s most famous creations as well as revealing previously unseen objects and archive material that further enriches our understanding of a jewellery house that continues to influence the way we adorn ourselves today.’

The Scroll Tiara. Nils Herrmann, Collection Cartier © Cartier

What’s On Display?

Featuring more than 350 objects, the V&A’s Cartier exhibition will trace the house’s legacy of art, design and craftsmanship since the turn of the 20th century. It was at this point that the three grandsons of founder Louis-François set about making Cartier a globally recognisable brand, establishing branches in Paris, London and New York. Creating opulent pieces for royalty and aristocracy, Cartier became known as ‘the jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers’ – but this reputation (and client list) soon evolved to appeal to leading creatives from the worlds of cinema, music and fashion.

To curate Cartier, Molesworth and Garrahan have gathered objects and sketches from the V&A and Cartier archives, His Majesty The King from the Royal Collection, major UK and international museums, and private collections. Of the precious jewels, showstopping objects, historic gemstones, iconic watches and clocks on display, highlights visitors at the V&A Cartier exhibition will see:

• The Williamson Diamond brooch commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, featuring the rare 23.6 carat pink Williamson diamond
• The Scroll Tiara commissioned in 1902 and worn to the coronation of Elizabeth II, and by Rihanna on the cover of W magazine in 2016
• A rose clip brooch (1938) worn by Princess Margaret at her sister’s coronation
• Grace Kelly’s engagement ring (1956), from the Monaco Princely Palace Collection, that she wore in her final film High Society (1956)
• An amethyst and sapphire brooch made by Cartier London (c.1933) for Jacques Cartier’s wife Nelly
• Mexican film star María Félix’s snake necklace (1968)
• The Manchester Tiara from the V&A collection, made in 1903 for the Dowager Duchess of Manchester
• A collection of panther jewels, one of the House’s most enduring and instantly recognisable symbols, including a bracelet of pavé diamonds flecked with onyx (1978)
• A selection of Cartier timepieces that embody its unique approach to watchmaking, including the Crash wristwatch designed by Cartier London in 1967.

Casting a light on Cartier London’s storied history, the exhibtion will culminate in a spectacular display of tiaras.

Bandeau in emerald, ruby, sapphire, diamond and platinum, Cartier London, 1928 (© Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

Where & When?

Cartier will take over The Sainsbury Gallery at the V&A South Kensington from 12 April to 16 November 2025.

How To Get Tickets

The V&A has released a limited number of tickets for Cartier, priced from £27 per person. Book at vam.ac.uk

Note: the first release tickets have already sold out. More will be released in due course, but V&A Members can visit any V&A exhibition for free whenever they like. Prices start at £50 per year. Explore your options at vam.ac.uk