Cartier's historic tiaras and jewels take centre stage at Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria

Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is currently hosting a blockbuster exhibition dedicated to the renowned French luxury house, Cartier. The exhibition, titled 'Cartier,' brings together nearly 400 jewels, timepieces, jewelry objects, and archival materials, making it the most extensive presentation of the brand ever staged in Australia.

Opened on June 12, 2026, as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, the exhibition was created by London's Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in partnership with the NGV and in collaboration with Cartier. Approximately 300 of the works featured have never been exhibited in Australia before, drawing from the Cartier Collection, the brand's archives, and loans from international museums and private collections.

The exhibition meticulously traces more than a century of Cartier's design evolution. Visitors can explore pieces from its early Garland Style jewels and vibrant Tutti Frutti creations to its enigmatic Mystery clocks and iconic wristwatches. The final gallery is a particular highlight, showcasing 24 historic tiaras, many of which may be seen by visitors for the first and possibly only time in such a gathering.

Notable pieces on display include the Scroll tiara from 1902, worn by Lady Clementine Churchill at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation and later featured on Rihanna for W magazine. The Manchester tiara, commissioned in 1903, and two turquoise and diamond tiaras belonging to sisters Lady Nancy Astor and Lady Phyllis Brand, are also reunited for this exhibition. The display also features celebrated commissions owned by figures like Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Princess Margaret, and Wallis Simpson, including Simpson's famous Flamingo brooch and panther clip brooch.

Australian audiences may find particular interest in the section dedicated to Dame Nellie Melba, the internationally acclaimed soprano and an important early 20th-century client of Cartier, a period when the house was gaining renown for its Garland Style jewels.