The Cartier Love bracelet is a highly popular and iconic piece of jewelry. In 2016, it was the most Googled piece of jewelry worldwide. The bracelet’s design, featuring tiny gold screws, was unisex and challenged traditional jewelry norms when it was launched.
Instead of being reserved for special occasions, the Love bracelet was intended to be worn daily and secured on the wrist with its own golden screwdriver.
Who wears them?
The Cartier Love bracelet was originally given as gifts to famous couples in the 20th century, including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Ali MacGraw and Steve McQueen, and Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti.
Today, the bracelet is worn by celebrities, fashionable individuals, and even royalty. In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wore matching Love bracelets on the cover of TIME magazine, and Meghan has been seen wearing hers frequently.
Why are they so popular?
The Cartier Love bracelet has remained popular for over 50 years since its debut and is even more in demand today. It is rumored that hospitals in New York keep mini Love screwdrivers on hand in case they need to remove the bracelet in an emergency.
The Cartier Love bracelet’s enduring popularity can be attributed to its unique design and symbolic meaning, according to Pierre Rainero, Cartier’s director of image, style, and heritage.
Rainero notes that the screw design is closely tied to the bracelet’s meaning and that the symbolic value is immediately apparent. As a result, the Love bracelet has become a staple in modern fashion.
Understanding the Price Range of Cartier Love Bracelets
The Cartier Love bracelet is the most searched piece of jewelry online and is also frequently counterfeited. It is a highly sought-after design that has been on the must-have list for fashion editors for over 50 years.
The bracelet is worn by women of all ages, from 22-year-old billionaire Kylie Jenner, who stacks six at a time, to the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, who wears a single no-stones bangle.
If you want to buy a brand new Love bracelet from Cartier, it will cost between $4,050 and $56,000. However, pre-owned Cartier Love bracelets can be purchased for as little as $3,200.
The price of a Love bracelet at Cartier varies based on the metal, width, and presence of gemstones.
- Single diamond bangles start at $5,300
- Four diamond bangles start at $10,100
- Ten diamond bangles start at $14,600
- Pavé diamond bangles start at $24,900 and can go up to $56,000.
Cartier’s slogan for the Love bracelet is “How far would you go for love?”
To save money, consider purchasing a pre-owned Love bracelet. Authenticated pre-owned Cartier Love bracelets are available starting at $5,300.
Where to Find Authentic Cartier Love Bracelets at the Best Price
The Cartier Love bracelet is available directly from Cartier or through major designer retailers such as Harrods and Selfridges. It can also be purchased secondhand from Vestiaire Collective, Farfetch, and 1st Dibs. The Love style is also available in ring and earring form.
When investing in timeless jewelry like the Love bracelet, it is important to store and care for it to ensure it lasts properly.
Facts About Cartier Love Bracelets
Sizing
The Cartier Love bracelet comes in seven sizes, ranging from 15 to 21 centimeters. To find the best fit:
- Measure your wrist and add 1 centimeter for a tight fit or 2 centimeters for a loose fit. If you need more clarification, it is best to round up.
- For more assistance, refer to our Cartier Love bracelet sizing guide.
- Read our Cartier love bracelet sizing guide.
Counterfeiting: How can you tell a real Cartier from a fake Cartier?
There are several ways to tell if a Cartier Love bracelet is genuine. The shape should be oval and follow the form of the wrist, not round like a regular bangle.
Genuine Love bracelets are also heavy and not lightweight or bendable. Other signs of a fake include:
- Bolts that don’t work.
- Bolt heads that are not aligned.
- Stamping or hallmarks that are shallow or sloppy.
Authentic Love bracelets purchased from a Cartier shop come in a red Cartier “guirlande” box with a special niche for the vermeil screwdriver included with the bracelet.
In the past decade, the Love bracelet has gained even more popularity. Here are 17 interesting facts about the bracelet’s more than 50-year history:
- The Love bracelet was designed in 1969 by Aldo Cipullo at the Cartier workshop in New York, not Paris. Cipullo had previously worked with David Webb and Tiffany & Co.
- The oval-shaped bracelet was meant to fit close to a loved one’s wrist and was designed for both men and women. It was referred to as a “modern love handcuff” due to its securing method using a screwdriver.
- The Love bracelet was Cipullo’s first design for Cartier. He later created the brand’s Juste un Clou “nail” bracelet.
- The bracelet has a serial number that is engraved on each piece and kept on file for proof of authenticity due to the high number of counterfeits that have been produced.
- Cipullo’s design is credited with changing the way jewelry was worn. At the time, jewelry was often chosen to match an outfit, but the Love bracelet was meant to be worn anytime, day or night.
- It was intended to be worn by both men and women and was referred to as a “modern love handcuff” due to the way it was secured using a screwdriver.
- There is a rumor that Cartier only allowed couples to purchase Love bracelets and required assistance to put them on.
- It is rumored that the original Love bracelets were made of silver and plated in gold, but Cartier later produced them in solid gold.
- The diamond-studded Love bracelet was first introduced to the public in 1979, ten years after the original design.
- The round screws on the Love bracelet were inspired by Cipullo’s visits to hardware stores and the mechanical pieces he worked with in his studio.
- The screws were originally separate from the bracelet, but starting in 2011, they were joined to the bracelet halves to prevent lost screws.
- The Love bracelet has been worn by many famous celebrities and members of royalty, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were featured wearing matching Love bracelets on the cover of TIME magazine in 2020.
- TSA agents may not be fans of the Love bracelet due to its inability to be easily removed and its tendency to set off metal detectors at airports.
- The Love bracelet has become a staple in modern style and is often seen on the wrists of fashion icons and influencers.
- Love bracelets originally did not have serial numbers, but due to the high number of counterfeits, Cartier began engraving each bracelet with a unique number for proof of authenticity.
- It is rumored that some hospitals in New York City keep Love bracelet screwdrivers on hand if they need to remove the bracelet in an emergency.
- The Cartier Love bracelet is available in various metal options, including white, yellow, and rose gold, as well as in different widths and with or without gemstones. It is also available in ring and earring form.
