Inside the History of the Iconic Cartier Love Bracelet
The Cartier Love bracelet is one of the most popular pieces of jewelry ever designed, and one of the most iconic as well. (In fact, in 2016, the bracelet was the most Googled piece of jewelry in the entire world.) And for good reason: designed as a unisex piece with tiny gold screws, the piece challenged traditional notions of jewelry when it was officially launched. Instead of the notion that one's finest jewelry should be saved and shown off on the most rarified occasions, the Cartier Love bracelet was designed to not be taken off on a daily basis; secured on the wearer's wrist with its very own golden screwdriver.
The piece has always been popular, but in the last decade has surged into prominence. Here, a look at 13 facts that give insights into the Cartier Love bracelet's more than half a century of history.
1. The Love bracelet wasn't designed at Cartier's headquarters in Paris, but rather at the Nw York workshop of Aldo Cipullo in 1969. He then approached the maison with the prototype. The designer had previously worked with David Webb and Tiffany & Co.
2. The bracelet was designed in the shape of an oval in order to fit as closely as possible to a loved one's wrist. But not only that, it was also intended to be worn by both men and women. They were referred to as a "modern love handcuff" for the way in which they are secured using a screwdriver.
3. It was the first piece that the designer Aldo Cipullo created for Cartier. He went on to design the brand's iconic Juste un Clou "nail" bracelets, as well.
4. Cipullo's design is often credited with revolutionizing the way jewelry was worn. During the era in which the Love bracelet was created, jewelry was often chosen specifically to match an outfit, but the Love bracelet wasn't meant to coordinate with a particular look or to suit an occasion—it was worn day or night.
5. It is rumored that Cartier once prohibited customers from buying Love bracelets for themselves, with a policy stating that they could only be purchased by a couple. The bracelet was even designed to require the assistance of someone else to put it on.
6. It has been rumored that, originally, the bracelets were made of silver and plated in gold, but then Cartier moved to producing them in solid gold.
7. The diamond-studded Love bracelet was first introduced to the public in 1979, ten years after the original was designed.
8. The distinctive round screws that decorate the Love bracelet were inspired by visits to the hardware store and the mechanical pieces Cipullo was working with in his studio.
9. The screws were originally completely removable and separate from the bracelets, but starting in 2011, they became joined to the bracelet halves to avoid lost screws.
10. When the bracelet was first launched, popular lore has it that Cartier gave pairs of them to some of the most famous couples of the 20th century, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Ali MacGraw and Steve McQueen, and Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti.
11. While many adore the bracelets, TSA agents generally aren't among them. Since the bracelets can't be removed easily and often set off airport metal detectors, they're a pet peeve of security workers.
12. Love bracelets didn't originally have serial numbers included with them, but due to the large number of counterfeits that were created, the company began engraving each bracelet with a unique number that is kept on file for proof of authenticity.
13. It is rumored that some hospitals in New York City keep Love bracelet screwdrivers on hand, in case they need to remove the pieces from patients in an emergency.
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