In 2014, Cartier opened the doors of its Maison des Métiers d’Art in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Housed in a 17th-century farmhouse, the facility is dedicated to artistic craftsmanship and the pursuit of innovation through the revival of ancestral know-how. The crafts are categorised into three main families: the art of fire, the art of metal and the art of composition.
The art of fire encompasses all the different enamelling techniques including enamel painting, cloisonné, champlevé, grisaille and plique-à-jour. The art of metal includes gold granulation, which was developed in the 3rd century BC to create relief decoration from gold beads; enamel granulation, which is a combination of gold granulation and enamelling; and filigree, attributed to the Sumerians around 3,000 BC, which results in intricate openwork designs. The art of composition involves creating novel decorations using a variety of materials; thus mosaic, when translated to a watch dial, becomes micro-mosaic. Other materials include flower petals, straw, wood and gold leaf.
The Maison des Métiers d’Art is a unique initiative that has evolved into an Ali Baba’s cave of wonders, blending history and innovation while bringing together the finest examples of watchmaking and jewellery craftsmanship, known as métiers d’art, which are rightly considered to be threatened with extinction.
In a calm and serene setting, 40 artisans “with golden hands” work together, embodying Cartier’s long-term commitment to preserving, transmitting and developing these renowned forms of know-how in an atmosphere of boundless creativity. The Cartier Maison des Métiers d’Art will celebrate its 10th anniversary in autumn 2024, providing an ideal opportunity to reflect on a decade of creativity, and look ahead to the next 10 years.
The mission of the Maison des Métiers d’Art has not changed: to celebrate and pass on ancestral crafts while developing new techniques to create unique watches; to bring together jewellery and watchmaking workshops under one roof in order to produce exceptional jewellery timepieces; to collaborate with the local ecosystem in terms of talent and industry; and to attract international visitors. The Cartier Maison des Métiers d’Art offers bespoke tours during which visitors can discover the work of each artist at their workbench.
Whether you call it a house, a farm, a treasure trove or a showcase for high craftsmanship, the Cartier Maison des Métiers d’Art is a unique location that places creativity in the spotlight while preserving the exceptional crafts without which our watches and jewellery would not be nearly so sublime.
