CARTIER Just a Nail
Constantly reinvented, the Juste un Clou collection is certainly one of Cartier's greatest successes. Between design and high jewelry, this collection straight from the 1970s draws its inspiration from the industrial world.
If Juste un Clou was initially a bracelet, the collection has gradually been enriched with rings, earrings and necklaces. The fine jewelry store on Place Vendôme now offers more than 80 references in white gold, pink gold, white gold, with paved or non-paved screw heads.
Today, Castafiore invites you to discover and rediscover a unique selection of jewelry from this unique collection, imagined by an Italian designer for the very prestigious Maison Cartier.
Just a Nail: a unique collection by Cartier
The Juste un Clou collection was born in the early 1970s, in the heart of New York. A daring Italian designer who had immigrated to the United States had the idea of introducing new motifs into the fine jewelry catalog: Aldo Cipullo then imagined the Love bracelet and the Juste un Clou bracelet , then called the “Nail bracelet”.
Bathed in the American avant-garde and the underground spirit of the time, Aldo frequented Andy Warhol's Factory in particular, he was a visionary artist who wanted to draw on everyday life to develop all his creations. Also, just as Pop Art was able to do with many everyday objects, the Italian designer chose to start with the nail motif: he would make it an iconic object at Cartier !
Aldo believes that this small piece of hardware exudes a real “warmth,” an aspect he considers essential in the world of jewelry. “We are surrounded by things that are screwed, bolted, nailed. And I think it can’t be otherwise,” he explained at the time to the women’s magazine Women’s Wear Daily. The nail represents a humble and no less essential aspect of construction: as imagined for Cartier, it becomes a symbol of strength , of strong character, as can be this small, characterful piece of hardware. On women’s wrists, the Juste un Clou bracelet quickly becomes an anti-conformist emblem, an industrial icon. The success of the bracelet imagined by Aldo will of course be even more dazzling when, a few years after its creation, it will be seen worn by Elizabeth Taylor and Irving Penn.
The design and symbolism of Cartier Juste un Clou jewelry
As we mentioned, when Juste un Clou jewelry first appeared in the 1970s, it embodied the non-conformist spirit of its designer. In the highly codified world of fine jewelry, the simple nail of the original bracelet is a real snub. The nail thus embodies the luxury of the ordinary, the insolence of simplicity which, when represented in fine jewelry, works wonderfully. Juste un Clou jewelry is worn by all those who want to wear an unconventional piece of jewelry, who want to approach fine jewelry with a touch of rebellion.
Of course, the design of the jewelry in the collection has evolved with aesthetic developments. But, even today, the House describes the Juste un Clou bracelet as follows: “a nail transformed into a jewel, sober, radical lines, without compromise”. Worn like a delicate bangle , the bracelet lengthens the wrist, it is a guarantee of indisputable elegance.
Initially, the bracelet was made of yellow gold, it had a two-screw clasp that could be opened using a specific key. In 2012, the bracelet was revisited on the occasion of an exhibition organized in honor of the designer: Cartier then developed 12 new pieces that were an immediate success. Each time it was reinvented, the Juste un Clou jewel has systematically established itself as an obvious choice. Despite the stylistic modifications, the motif of the nail remains a base, it allows to create jewels that are always refined, always as symbolic.
Today, of course, Cartier continues to offer this iconic collection. We thus find jewelry in yellow, pink or white gold, with paved or non-paved screw heads, rings, brooches, earrings as well as necklaces.
Choose your Juste un Clou jewel from Castafiore
A digital platform for selling and buying jewelry, Castafiore unearths, assesses and showcases second-hand, antique and vintage jewelry. We offer nearly 10,000 references, among which you will often find designer gems, such as the jewelry from the Cartier Juste un Clou collection.
Browse our Juste un Clou selection and discover the stylistic evolutions of this iconic collection. You will find historical pieces, some of which date back to the time when the Nail bracelet was created, in the 1970s. Rose gold, yellow gold, but also rings and bracelets paved with diamonds: let yourself be illuminated by this collection and choose an authentic piece of jewelry, appraised by the Castafiore teams.
Individuals who entrust us with their jewelry are always accompanied by Anne and Charlotte: they are the ones who are responsible for reassuring them and often surprising them as to the provenance of their pieces. When they have a Cartier jewel in their hands, they ensure that it is an authentic jewel that bears the hallmark of the jeweler as well as all the characteristic elements of a piece made by the Maison de la Place Vendôme. Also, all the jewelry in this collection is of course delivered to you with a digital certificate of authenticity registered in the Blockchain (GoodslD), in other words a traceable and tamper-proof certificate that will follow your jewelry throughout its life.
Because buying a Cartier jewel is of particular importance to you, whether you want to offer it as a gift, mark an event or treat yourself to a jewel steeped in history, we are at your disposal to answer all your questions. Contact us directly at +33(0)608130158.