Love RingBy Cartier
Transgressive may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think of Cartier's Love ring, but when the collection was designed in 1969, it was immediately understood as radical and provocative.
With respect to traditions at the acclaimed French luxury jewelry house, Cartier had a policy that mandated the anonymity of its designers, so the names of its in-house artisans weren’t known outside the firm. The brand’s much-publicized emergence of Italian jeweler Aldo Cipullo (1935–84), who created the Love bracelet not at the brand’s headquarters in Paris, but in its New York City workshop, was indicative that change had come.
And, of course, there’s the Love bracelet itself: Modeled after a medieval chastity belt, Cipullo designed the cuff in two halves to be locked or unlocked with “a special vermeil screwdriver” — according to Cartier’s print advertisements at the time — that one’s lover would keep on hand.
In its understated, unisex design, which simultaneously seemed to take aim at conventional ideas about fashion, sexuality, love and romance at once — particularly as city streets and college campuses of the era were engulfed in social unrest — the Love bracelet became an instant classic.
Following the immense success of the Love bracelet, Cartier went on to produce earrings, necklaces and, perhaps most obviously, rings. It’s long been reported that the Love collection is the brand’s most popular and largest series, as Cartier has since augmented the line with cufflinks and watches, too.
When the Love ring was introduced, it boasted little in the way of ornamentation, much like the bracelet that launched the line. (Subsequent variations of the bracelet were embellished with diamonds and sapphires.)
The ring was originally dotted with miniature faux screwheads that mirrored those of the groundbreaking modernist cuff before it — not only referencing the series’ playful signature characteristic but also prominently underscoring the theme of permanence that Cipullo had in mind when he conceived of the design.
Today, the Cartier love ring is available in a variety of models: from a simple 18-karat yellow-gold wedding band to an 18-karat pink-gold ring inlaid with six brilliant-cut diamonds. Every Cartier Love ring is stamped with its metal type, serial number and ring size.
Cartier Love Ring
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Diamond, White Gold
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Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Cufflinks
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Diamond, 18k Gold
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Diamond, White Gold
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Diamond, White Gold
2010s Romanian Band Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
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Diamond, White Gold
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18k Gold
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Diamond, White Gold
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Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
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Diamond, White Gold
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Diamond
2010s French Band Rings
18k Gold, White Gold
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Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 2000s French Band Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
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Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
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White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
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Yellow Gold
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Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s French Band Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Rose Gold
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18k Gold
2010s French Contemporary Band Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s French Contemporary Band Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Modernist Band Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Band Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Modern Band Rings
18k Gold, White Gold
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Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
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Diamond, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Band Rings
Rose Gold
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Diamond, White Gold
Late 20th Century Band Rings
White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Band Rings
18k Gold, Rose Gold
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Rose Gold
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Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 2000s French Modern Band Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Band Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Fashion Rings
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Band Rings
Platinum
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Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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White Gold
2010s French Band Rings
Yellow Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Garnet, Amethyst, Rose Gold, 1...
2010s French Band Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Band Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Band Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Modern Wedding Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1990s Unknown Modern Band Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
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Diamond
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Wedding Rings
18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Unknown Contemporary Band Rings
Diamond, Rose Gold