From Paris with Love, Cartier 154 Champs-Élysées

Since 1899, Cartier’s iconic address has been 13 Rue de la Paix, a few steps away from the world famous and prestigious Place Vendôme. This year however, reflecting its position as the world number 1 jeweller, the venerable Maison is starting a series of large-scale openings and reno­vations, starting with the re-opening of 154 Champs-Élysées, its other Paris regal address.

First opened 10 years ago, the renowned 154 Champs-Élysées address recently went through a major transformation by Parisian interior designer Bruno Moinard who revised it in its entirety during 8 months.

Bruno Moinard is the mastermind behind the ‘Moinard concept’, which has been applied to all the 340 Cartier boutiques in the world for about 20 years.

At 154 Champs-Élysées, a private townhouse built during the Second Empire, two floors, spanning 650 square meters, are divided into private lounges, a portrait gallery, and the­med spaces dedicated to diamonds, men, jewelry and accessories.

The subtle luxury of the chosen details, the measured extravagance, and the ultimate comfort  created by Bruno Moinard all reflect the high standards of refinement that a Cartier boutique obviously demands.

The remarkable and monumental entrance on the most beautiful avenue in the world, for instance: eight metres high, it is surrounded on either side by three curved balconies and windows over seven metres high, framing two impressive chandeliers which are almost five metros wide, made by French glasswork artist Régis Mathieu.

I also had a crush on the staircase, designed as a spiral, with a bronze bannister along walls shimmering with natural pigments, hand-coated by the workshop of French artisan Pierre Bonnefille.

Of course, Bruno Moinard made sure the entire space is treated with the same attention to details, literally from floor to ceiling: the floor alternates Versailles parquet and Istrian stone floo­ring set with tone on tone cabochons, surrounded by a golden border. The vast and regal space is modernised by smooth grey oak walls with bronze patina, and large panels of glass and golden threaded tulle. An amazing place to replace the strap on my Cartier Santos Dumont watch….