The Cartier Love Bracelet is one of the most iconic pieces of designer jewellery ever. From the wrists of royals to actors to athletes, the piece elegantly graces the wrist of the affluent. But how did the idea come about? This is the story of the Cartier Love Bracelet…
From being heartbroken to making history
The story begins with Aldo Cipullo, a young Italian man who was nicknamed ‘Aldo Americano’ due to his affinity for America. Eventually, his dreams came true, and he migrated from Rome to New York in pursuit of a better life. While in the Big Apple, he found love, only to have it taken from his hands. Instead of allowing his despair to defeat him, Aldo used it as inspiration. He sought to create a piece of jewellery that would reflect the everlasting nature of love, and so the idea of the Cartier Love Bracelet was born.
Aldo’s inspiration for design was the chastity belt and the visible screws in New York buildings. With the combination of these elements and Culpo’s simplistic approach to jewellery design, he created an oval bangle made of two interlocking C shapes. The idea behind requiring a screwdriver to remove the bracelet was to reflect the permanent nature of love. Culpo famously said, “What modern people want are love symbols that look semi-permanent, or at least require a trick to remove… After all, love symbols should suggest an everlasting quality.”
The Cartier Love Bracelet was an instant hit, retailing for $250 at the time of its release. You might think this sounds cheap, and you would be right. Even adjusting for inflation, this is only around $2,200. In comparison, today the bracelet starts at around £4,500, with the most expensive models going up to £50,000. Due to its high demand and equally high price, this has led to many counterfeit/replica bracelets being produced. It got so bad that Cartier even took legal action against some counterfeit sellers. However, Cartier’s high markup on the product makes the replica option the go-to choice for most people.
Facts about the cartier love bracelet
- It is rumoured that the bracelet became so popular that hospitals in New York would keep a screwdriver in case any patients came in wearing one.
- Cipullo initially pitched the idea to Tiffany & Co., who rejected it. We can only wonder what could have been if Tiffany & Co. had decided to take on the design.
- The bracelet holds its value fairly well and can be sold for 50-70% of its retail value if in good condition.
- According to many sources, the Cartier Love bracelet is the most googled piece of designer jewellery (and you probably just pushed it even higher).
- It is rumoured that at one point Cartier exclusively sold the bracelet to couples.
Celebrities wearing the Cartier Love Bracelet
As you would expect, the bracelet is a favourite for many celebrities. Here are some familiar faces wearing it.
