Inspired by the radiant beauty of the past and the timeless allure of Grace Kelly, the collection transforms the humble coffee bean into a dazzling array of sun-kissed jewellery, blending Cartier’s signature elements of flora with a touch of everyday elegance.
The Grain de Café collection features an exquisite selection of rings, pendants, earrings, and brooches, each adorned with intricate clusters of coffee bean motifs and fiery diamonds set in white gold. A highlight of the collection is the reissue of a 1955 necklace, paying tribute to the creative legacy of Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s visionary Creative Director from 1933.
Cartier’s master craftsmen have meticulously designed the golden clusters to imbue them with mobility and sensuality. Hollow grains, composed of curved and arched parts, were created to minimize impact between the elements. The smooth or gadrooned surfaces are brought to life using a hand-polishing technique perfected by a dedicated team of 30 artisans, with over 60 prototypes developed to achieve the final design.
“Grain de Café creates a new preciousness by playing with light, finishes, and volumes,” says Marie-Laure Cérède, Creative Director of Jewellery and Watchmaking at Cartier. “The result is a versatile collection with added spirit. A symbol of the creative freedom of the Maison, Grain de Café transcends a literal translation of nature and results in a multisensory design.”
Originally debuting in 1938, Cartier’s coffee bean design became a sensation in the 1950s and 1960s, largely thanks to the iconic partnership between Jeanne Toussaint and Grace Kelly. The design gained even greater prominence when Prince Rainier III of Monaco gifted his bride, Grace Kelly, with a Grain de Café set for their wedding—a gesture that solidified its place in Cartier’s storied history.
In a nod to this glamorous past, Cartier’s latest campaign for the Grain de Café collection features actress and Cartier Global Ambassador Elle Fanning. Directed by Alex Prager, the campaign captures Fanning as the modern embodiment of the Grain de Café woman, whose charismatic essence links her to Grace Kelly, the French Riviera, and the chic opulence of the 1950s.
