CARTIER UNVEILS NEWLY DESIGNED FLAGSHIP AT SOUTH COAST PLAZA

BY MICHELLE DALTON TYREE

And it’s a perfectly Parisian love letter to Southern California

May 10, 2024

Tank. Trinity. Love. The beloved icons and designs of Cartier have a stunning new home at South Coast Plaza, and it’s full of delightful Easter eggs that celebrate Southern California — if you know just where to look.

For its opening debut, a Cartier page dressed in a gold-buttoned, double-breasted Cartier-red jacket with matching cap greeted clients and welcomed them into the newly unveiled 8,000-square-foot flagship, which has been thoroughly re-imagined from the exterior to the lush salons inside the boutique.

The South Coast Plaza flagship is a testament to the House’s innovative design code, both with its coveted collections and meticulously thought-out interiors. The Maison is known for imbuing each of its boutiques with bespoke design elements that reflect the region they are in, and the South Coast Plaza boutique is filled with clever nods to the West Coast — starting with the tactile wave-like design that wraps around the boutique.

The unique three-dimensional facade, the first of its kind for Cartier in North America, was crafted from resin to look like undulating waves. It evokes a soft sea breeze and beckons guests into the breathtaking new boutique.

The interior is inspired by Orange County’s lush landscape – from the shimmering coast to the dramatic beauty of the nearby Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree. Handcrafted staff columns inspired by palm trees and a hand-painted mural depicting a portrait of local vegetation in dusty desert tones are an elegant love letter to Southern California.

“We are thrilled to reopen our doors and invite new and familiar faces to visit Cartier South Coast Plaza,” says Walter Bolognino, President & CEO of Cartier North America. “The boutique feels like an extension of the stunning Orange County landscape and is reflective of the casual elegance of its community.”

“Casual” may seem like a relative term in the world of Cartier, but a whimsical and elegantly irreverent design ethos has always been part of Cartier’s design code with its coveted jewelry collections such as Love and Juste un Clou.

And this extends to its interior design as well with touches such as a Livatz glass canopy light inspired by Orange County’s skate culture which adds a playful touch to the accessories and care service areas.

Notably, this is also the first boutique to feature design elements taken from the three key boutiques that Cartier has dubbed its “temple” locations: Paris, New York and London. These boutiques were the first three locations that Cartier opened and, as such, hold a special status for the Maison.

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We are thrilled to reopen our doors and invite new and familiar faces to visit Cartier South Coast Plaza. The boutique feels like an extension of the stunning Orange County landscape and is reflective of the casual elegance of its community.

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WALTER BOLOGNINO, PRESIDENT & CEO OF CARTIER NORTH AMERICA

The custom-designed dahlia chandeliers above the bridal salon, for example, were previously a design element only seen in the Paris location. But the dahlias – a symbol of eternal love – now grace the South Coast Plaza boutique as well. The bridal area is also home to a lacquer and mother-of-pearl panel by Atelier Midavaine, inspired by a high jewelry brooch in the shape of an orchid native to Southern California.

Along with the design elements inspired by local plants, floral and vegetation, fresh floral arrangements with native blooms grace each of the salons and are perfectly coordinated to match the theme of the room.

Most importantly for Cartier lovers, the South Coast Plaza flagship offers the full range of Cartier creations, including jewelry, fine jewelry, watches, leather goods, fragrance, Art of Living and other special collections to fall in love with!