Overview
The jewellery of kings, queens and stars, CARTIER is the NGV International's latest landmark exhibition, bringing together almost 400 precious jewels, tiaras, necklaces and watches from around the globe. The largest exhibition of the iconic jewellery maison ever presented on our shores, this Australian-exclusive has been adapted from London's Victoria & Albert Museum with a specially expanded edition.
Running until Sunday, October 4, nearly 300 of the pieces on display have never been viewed in Australia before. And almost all were worn by a who's who of icons, from the stage and the screen to the aristocracy, including Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Rihanna, Andy Warhol, Princess Margaret, The Duchess of Windsor and the Maharaja of Patiala. Renowned for its unmatched excellence in design and craft, Cartier's reputation could hardly be more sparkling since its founding in 1847.
Installation view of CARTIER on display from 12 June to 4 October 2026, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy.
Get ready to be dazzled, as CARTIER is jam-packed with masterfully crafted highlights. These include over 30 magnificent tiaras — a symbol of royalty and glamour — representing some of the jeweller's most impressive pieces. Think the show-stopping Scroll tiara (1902), crafted in the house's signature 'Garland style' and worn by Lady Clementine Churchill at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and by Rihanna on the cover of W magazine in 2016.
Also featured is the 1951 necklace gifted to Elizabeth Taylor by her third husband, film producer Mike Todd, while on holiday in the French Riviera in 1957. Admired for its intricate geometric latticework and fire-red Burmese rubies, Taylor recalled receiving the piece from her newlywed as she emerged from Villa La Fiorentina's pool: "He was holding a red leather box, and inside was a ruby necklace, which glittered in the warm light. It was like the sun, lit up and made of red fire."
Installation view of CARTIER on display from 12 June to 4 October 2026, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy.
"Cartier are world-renowned for their excellence in jewellery and timepiece design and innovation – a reputation fostered by the three entrepreneurial brothers Pierre, Louis and Jacques Cartier. This exhibition tells the story of how they transformed their grandfather's jewellery business into one of the most prestigious international jewellery houses with a clientele including royalty, high society and movie stars," says NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM.
Keeping with this cinematic theme, CARTIER also features numerous jewels that were owned by Grace Kelly following her marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. These include a multi-strand pearl-and-coral necklace (1958) and a 1960 gold-and-pearl poodle brooch, recalling her pet poodle, Oliver. Meanwhile, Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba — often called Australia's first global superstar — was an early Cartier client, with her Garland-style floral swags, bows, necklaces and bodice ornaments featured in the exhibition.
Installation view of CARTIER on display from 12 June to 4 October 2026, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy.
Alongside hundreds more eye-catching highlights, including a standout selection of Cartier timepieces and opal-studded works, the exhibition design is also red-carpet-worthy. Featuring a new collaboration between the NGV and Rotterdam multidisciplinary studios, Studio Sabine Marcelis and CLOUD, expect a meeting of colour, light and materiality that reflects Cartier's immense cultural and gemmological heritage. Plus, an original soundtrack by Japanese electronic auteur Ai Yamamoto and Finnish composer Erkki Veltheim adds to a fascinating gallery experience.
"Building on the success of its presentation at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the NGV iteration of the Cartier exhibition will showcase pieces never-before-seen in Australia. It promises to be an enlightening experience for the public, offering a captivating journey into the world of Cartier and its signature style, a living language in permanent evolution," says Pierre Rainero, Director of Cartier Image, Style and Heritage.
Installation view of CARTIER on display from 12 June to 4 October 2026, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy.
Installation view of CARTIER on display from 12 June to 4 October 2026, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy.
Installation view of CARTIER on display from 12 June to 4 October 2026, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy.
Installation view of CARTIER on display from 12 June to 4 October 2026, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy.
Installation view of CARTIER on display from 12 June to 4 October 2026, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy.
Installation view of CARTIER on display from 12 June to 4 October 2026, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy.
Installation view of CARTIER on display from 12 June to 4 October 2026, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy.
CARTIER is on now at the NGV International, running until Sunday, October 4. Head to the website for more information.
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Top image: Installation view of CARTIER on display from 12 June to 4 October 2026, at NGV International, Melbourne. Photo: Sean Fennessy.