The Secret History of the Cartier Trinity Ring
Balanced proportions and clean lines embody a design vision that only a Cartier jeweler can achieve. Since its inception, the Cartier Trinity ring has teetered on the edge of jewelry and sculpture, positioning itself as the accessory of choice for male and female celebrities alike. Silver screen icons like Grace Kelly, Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, and Gary Cooper found this timeless object essential as it evoked an extension of their style.
The ring's success is due not only to its impeccable design, but also to its powerful symbolism. The meaning of this interconnected ring awaits endless interpretations, from a gesture of familial affection to be inherited by generations to a symbol of unending friendship or the profession of eternal love. It's easy to become attached to an object in which those poetic memories of life are imbued. Almost a century after its magnificent creation, its charm continues to hold strong.
1924
Almost 80 years after the company was established, Louis Cartier, the son of the namesake founder, designed an intertwined ring for French poet and playwright Jean Cocteau. The piece included three bands in yellow gold, rose gold, and white gold. This revolutionary creation would become a distinctive code of the Cartier style.
1930-1960
Both the Trinity ring and bracelet were met with total success, becoming a symbol of elegance à la française. Great personalities were irresistibly involved in this object, thanks to the fluidity of its mobile rings—round on the outside and smooth on the inside. When Old Hollywood icons like Grace Kelly and Gary Cooper were spotted in the style, it gave the ring a tangible connection with regality and star power in the public eye.
1981
After a decade of changes, the three-band ring officially adopted the name "Trinity." The jewelry house created a version of the ring for the "les must de Cartier" line, which engraved the rose gold band with that very slogan. Eventually, the slogan was phased out by the brand, and later models of the ring did not include the engraving.
1990s
Over time, the style was adapted into other forms or style. In some cases, jewels were incorporated into the design, while sometimes, the shape and/or style shifted to match the current trends. In the 1990s, the ring was made bigger, to match the style of chunky jewelry popular at the time.
2014
Affirming once again that its innovative design stands the test of time, in 2014, Cartier presented the launch of the Trinity Ruban solitaire. The piece was inspired by the marital convenant of two souls joining together as one, making it the first ring baring the Trinity name to feature only one band.
