Following its premiere in Vienna and a second chapter in Shanghai, the third instalment of Cartier’s Nature Sauvage high jewellery collection lands in Singapore for its final destination — a fitting stage that celebrates the freedom, craftsmanship and savoir-faire of the maison, as well as the maison’s 30 years of presence in the City.
Bringing to life its iconic flora and fauna through precious jewels, animals take shape through landscapes of the real and imagined with a powerful, riveting vitality; the Former Command House brings to life six curated rooms – each inspired by a facet of Singapore’s Peranakan culture — that invite guests to encounter Cartier’s legacy through the poetic gaze of our island nation.
The first three rooms take inspiration from the spirit of the island itself: Thrill with the Wind first in celebration of the winds that create the raw, flowing movement of sand; Treasures of Land next in appreciation of Singapore’s architecture and Cartier’s geometric high jewellery pieces; Shapes of Water in a third thematic dedication to the water that cocoons the island. Rattan is a major material used throughout, first as towering Super Flowers, then as sculpted rattan pebbles that rest amidst the urban jungle — both odes to both the organic craft of the region and the iconic symbols of the cityscape. In the third room, the glistening surface of the water mirrors the brilliance of Cartier’s diamonds, making for a lyrical first half to Nature Sauvage’s final chapter.
In the fourth room, culture meets tradition in a spotlight of the Maison’s cherished designs over the years. Crafted in the Maison’s workshops throughout its long history, these creations are authenticated, documented and restored to preserve their craftsmanship, with a special focus on pieces that have embroidery and beading to reflect the rich history of the textile industry in Singapore. It is here also that the Alaxoa necklace lies — an exceptional creation adorned with over 400 emeralds, the combination of Peranakan beadwork and Cartier’s high jewellery-making savoir-faire that comes as part of an exclusive workshop led by the Maison’s Director of Transmission, History and Patrimony, Michel Aliaga, alongside local artisans.
Moving forward is the fifth room, this time dedicated to Cartier’s fine watchmaking. In a rounded room, arches adorned with straw marquetry in a radiant sunray motif pay tribute to the sunray dial — an emblem of the Maison’s horological artistry — while intricately woven bamboo pillars reflect the cultural symbolism of resilience and grace. The Nature Sauvage journey then concludes in the Special Order room, where the maison is able to take special orders of co-creation in a space modelled to remind of a Peranakan shophouse.
Apart from the extensive and immersive journey, this Nature Sauvage exhibition also includes ten Private Viewing Salons, each designed around three distinct themes in collaboration with local artisans Mike Tay from Onlewo, Hazlee Suip from Rooma and sisters Swee Lin and Swee May from Maneknya. From cushion covers and silk square wall art to unique fabrics applied on soft furnishings, Cartier has truly made a feat to combine the best of local heritage with their own in a dually celebratory manner worth sparing a glance.
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