This high jewelry bracelet uses platinum, sapphire, rock crystal and diamonds to evoke the sun and blue sky. Photo courtesy Cartier.

BY LESLIE JORDAN CLARY

Cartier’s latest high jewelry collection, Étourdissant, is a play on daylight and evening, while also drawing on the lush colors of southern France’s Côte d’Azur. The word “Étourdissant” has no equivalent in English but might be best interpreted as something that stirs the emotions, and these pieces suggest moods from light and cheery to somber evening tones. The more than 50 pieces of the collection come in three distinct categories: Daylight, Evening Shadows, and Artistic Crafts. The stunning stones are showcased to evoke the nuances of light as it changes throughout the day. Several colorful designs evoke the maharajas of ancient India. Cartier’s iconic panther also makes an appearance in jasper with emerald eyes.

—December 2015