The Cartier Jeanne Toussaint Necklace From Ocean’s 8
As the exclusive jewellery partner for Ocean’s 8, Cartier created the stunning necklace that is a central feature of Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett’s heist. The piece is named the Jeanne Toussaint and is a nod to the house’s creative director from the ’30s who set up its stylistic signature.
The story behind the necklace
In the new film Ocean’s 8 starring Sandra Bullock, her all-female team of thieves plot to steal a $150 million diamond necklace. However, it turns out that the piece they’re after is actually a fake — made from zirconium oxide, which looks like real diamonds but is much cheaper to create.
The heist movie is based on the 1931 story of “The Necklace,” a short story written by French author Guy de Maupassant, which explores the theme of appearance and reality. It tells the story of a woman, Mathilde, who is beautiful and charming but is unhappy with her own social and financial situation. She is always looking for material wealth and has a hard time judging her own beauty.
During the late nineteenth century, Paris experienced social and economic change that resulted in an explosion of wealth and posh fashion. It was a period of innovation and technological advancement that led to the growth of new industries, a boom in population, and an increase in tourism.
Cartier, in partnership with Warner Brothers, took on the project as the exclusive jewellery partner and worked closely with the production company to recreate and reinterpret a multimillion dollar piece of jewelry for the film. The brand also provided fine pieces from its stock and collections for the cast to use during filming at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which lasted five nights.
To celebrate the release of Ocean’s 8, Cartier is presenting an immersive exhibition of the high jewelry seen in the movie at its Fifth Avenue mansion in New York. The show runs through June 8 and will include the Jeanne Toussaint necklace that Anne Hathaway wears in her role as Daphne Kluger, among other pieces from the Ocean’s 8 collection.
The story of the necklace is inspired by a real piece that was originally designed for a man, but later became an iconic women’s accessory. The original was commissioned by Louis XV for his lover Madame du Barry, and it contained 647 diamonds at a whopping 2,840 carats. It was later sold to a Dutch firm.
The design
The necklace adorning Anne Hathaway in ocean’s 8 is a breathtaking reproduction of a historic piece created by Jacques Cartier for the Maharaja of Nawanagar in 1931. Although the original is no longer existent, Cartier delved into its archives to create a version of this silver screen centrepiece for ocean’s 8.
In addition to the jewel itself, Cartier also provided multiple other pieces and timepieces of their own collections to be used by the actors in the film. For example, a bracelet worn by Mindy Kaling is crafted of yellow gold and baguette-cut diamonds from the Panthere collection, while Hathaway wears a wristwatch from the same series.
It was a demanding job for the master jewelers to recreate this historical piece within eight weeks, and perfectly fit it to Hathaway’s neckline. In order to do this, the necklace had to be reduced in size by 15 to 20 percent and its coloured diamonds were replaced with natural zirconium oxides mounted on white gold.
To ensure the resemblance to its original, the artisans worked from photographs and sketches that were taken from the Cartier archives, and drew inspiration from the creative director who had inspired the design. Jeanne Toussaint, whose nickname was “La Panthere,” had been with the brand since the 1930s and was instrumental in setting up the house’s stylistic signature.
As a result, the jewel’s design is a beautiful amalgam of classic elements from various eras, and has an elevated aesthetic that stands out in the sea of drab jewelry available today. The gems are matched to each other and the metal mountings are minimally polished, allowing maximum light into the stones.
The pendant’s asymmetric design reflects the delicate lily-of-the-valley settings that were popular in the early 1900s and mastered by Atelier Henri Picq in Paris. It is one of the most famous and admired designs from Cartier, and has been a favorite among great jewelry collectors for decades.
Its asymmetrical design and curved edges make it easy to slip on and off, and its delicate, yet firm feel is a welcome contrast to the heavy-duty jewellery seen in most films. The opulent, ethereal look of the jewel is further enhanced by its softly glowing hues.
The materials
In the film Ocean’s 8, Daphne Kluger is seen wearing a diamond necklace, named “Jeanne Toussaint.” This jewel was designed by Cartier in 1931 for the Maharaja of Nawanagar. It included what was described as the “finest cascade of colored diamonds in the world,” and it is a piece that has gone down in history.
While the original of this stunning creation is no longer around, Cartier has preserved a design drawing and photographs of the piece in their archives. This allowed them to create a replica for the film, which they did in an eight-week time frame.
The necklace was made of white gold and colorless cubic zirconias, a diamond simulant developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970’s. The resulting piece was a very close match to the original. However, the diamond simulant is not quite as durable as a genuine stone. It is also more expensive and difficult to repair.
Moreover, it does not possess the same sparkle or brilliance that real diamonds do. This is why the filmmakers chose a different material to make their version of the necklace.
To achieve this, they used zirconium oxides, a natural mineral that is found in many parts of the world. They used this material because it was a good substitute for diamonds and had the same look.
Another important consideration was that the necklace would have to be durable enough for wear and tear during filming, since it was constantly exposed to rough handling. The jewelers at Cartier’s High Jewelry workshop on Rue de la Paix in Paris worked tirelessly to meet this goal.
The final result is a necklace that passes all the high standards of craftsmanship and quality set by Cartier. It was completed in just eight weeks, which is a huge amount of work for jewelers who are already overworked with everyday tasks.
The process to create this piece was very complicated, but the end result was worth it. It is a beautiful piece of jewelry that will always remain a cherished reminder of the movie’s success. It will also inspire future jewelry makers to think outside of the box and be bolder with their designs.
The craftsmanship
In the upcoming film Ocean’s 8 Sandra Bullock and her all-female crew plan to steal a $150 million diamond necklace. But the jewel they’re after is actually a fake, designed by the French house Cartier and crafted using zirconium oxides instead of real diamonds. It took eight weeks to make and, according to WWD, was created in Cartier’s high jewelry workshops in Paris.
The Jeanne Toussaint necklace, which is worn by Anne Hathaway’s character in the film, was designed by Cartier’s High Jewelry department and dubbed after its former creative director Jeanne Toussaint (pictured). It was inspired by a 1931 piece that was designed for the Maharaja of Nawanagar by Jacques Cartier.
To craft a piece like the Jeanne Toussaint, artisans must be familiar with how to use a variety of techniques, including casting and setting. The process requires precise attention to detail and is time consuming. It can take up to two years to complete a high-jewelry piece, but for the filming of Ocean’s 8, Cartier had to meet a tight deadline.
A craftsman’s job is to take time and care in every step of the production process, so they can ensure that the product has the highest level of quality. That means making sure that every stone has been carefully chosen, that the design is clear and straightforward, and that the piece of jewelry has the capacity to enhance its wearer’s life.
As a result, it’s important to practice your trade everyday – whether that be designing, sewing, or constructing something new. That will allow you to perfect your skills and improve faster.
While a craftsman is always self-policing, they also know that their work is ultimately about their customer. They’ll often make adjustments based on feedback they receive from their customers, which can help them make their designs better than ever before.
That’s the beauty of craft – it’s about the intrinsic value that comes from the craftsmanship and how it’s connected to the customer’s life. It’s a way of putting yourself in the shoes of those who wear your products and, in turn, creating pieces that they’ll love and cherish.
The Cartier Jeanne Toussaint Necklace From Ocean’s 8