“It’s a great club of ambassadors to belong to,” smiled the London-born actress at an exclusive dinner in Chiltern Firehouse hotel to fete several days of activation by the French jeweler.
Balinska, of Polish and Caribbean origin, stars with Kristen Stewart and Naomi Scott in the sequel to the girl trio fantasy, which hits cinema screens next month. She also joins Kaya Scodelario of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Skins fame, as a fellow face of Cartier, which despite being founded 172 years ago can boast that almost half its customers are millenials.
The jewelry marque also staged a staged a series of talks hosted by fashion editor Caroline Issa, who interviewed such figures as show producer Es Devlin; model Alek Wek and designer Grace Wales Bonner. All these activations were unveiled with flourish during what the house has christened The Year of Cartier in London.
Located on 175 New Bond Street, in a five-story listed building, the boutique now extends west to Albemarle Street, with a special diamond section.
Architect Bruno Moinard said his goal was to create, “a refined mélange of French savoir-faire adapted to the London spirit, interspersed with a few British cultural references.” One VIP room is finished in British Racing Green; another called Ruby plays on the curvy shapes of UK barbershops. A strip of larch in the watch department mimics the control panel of an Aston Martin.
On the ground floor are three salons – Cartier Icons, scents and accessories. While the second floor has the full range of Cartier services and some exceptional pieces from emerald-eyed diamond encrusted panther bracelets to vintage creations – like the Halo tiara developed for Begum Andrée Aga Khan back in 1934.
There’s also a second-floor, 150-square-meter, invitation-only club called La Résidence, with a salon and mixologist barman, for master classes, private dinners, photo exhibitions and performances – available for the fashion week, Frieze and Wimbledon. Over 100 events are scheduled for 2019.
Cartier has a second store nearby at 41 Old Bond Street since 2000, which also boasts some rare collectors pieces, from a Tank watch once owned by Fred Astaire to a silver cigarette case Winston Churchill gave to his son Randolph.
For the revamped flagship, Cartier created a New Bond Street vintage collection of emblematic designs from the famous Tank, Pasha and Tonneau watches to the best-selling Love bracelets. And re-issued the Crash watch. In modern retailing manner, dropping one into the boutique each month. The next 23 are already sold out.
