Cartier, Beauty Beyond the Limits of Eyeballs
Over four years, we embarked on a collaboration with Cartier, reimagining how the legacy of high jewelry could be experienced on the microscopic level. Peering through the lens of science we explored hidden layers of beauty, worlds hidden within rare and precious stones, exceptional pieces from Cartier’s haute joaillerie collection: Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald and Opal.
Cartier approached us to create a series of artworks that look at nature through the lens of science, exploring dimensions of beauty within rare and precious stones.
Together, we explored the hidden worlds of four iconic stones: an emerald, ruby, sapphire, and opal. Drawing on geological, meteorological, and atmospheric phenomena, each piece invited viewers to witness the unseen, forging a deeper connection to the materials and craftsmanship at the heart of Cartier’s heritage.
These worlds unfold through virtual reality films, large-scale immersive installations, and site-specific experiences for customers in virtual reality and immersive rooms, most recently at the New Bond Store in London and across Cartier High Jewelry events worldwide.
Working with equipment from the Natural History Museum in London, we used precision macrophotography to capture the minute structures of each stone, stacking high-resolution images to build detailed datasets of their inner compositions.
With guidance from Cartier’s in-house geologists, these datasets were reinterpreted into intricate, photorealistic 3D environments, while a custom-built light rig simulated natural optical behaviour to enhance each gem’s refractive play. The resulting visual material was transformed into virtual reality films and immersive installations, combining spatial sound, motion, and visual depth to evoke each stone’s emotional and material essence.
Each year, a new gem was studied and reimagined, forming a growing collection of sensory journeys: a virtual cabinet of Cartier’s extraordinary natural treasures.
The Stones
Opal
A frozen explosion of colour, alive with rhythm and pulse, the Opal evokes the birth of the universe itself. Within its swirling clouds of gas, rock, and liquid light, visitors travel through cosmic caves and iridescent lakes, glimpsing nebulae that shimmer and dissolve into darkness. It is a realm both immense and intimate, echoing the universe’s first moments of creation.
Sapphire
Serene, suspended, and timeless, the Sapphire embodies calm and clarity. Visitors move through deep-blue strata, gliding past frozen waves and crystalline cliffs where light fractures into radiant shards. Within its depths lies stillness. A meditation in blue.
Ruby
A world of flowing fire and molten silk, the Ruby radiates warmth, richness, and quiet brilliance. Through its glowing landscape of liquid light and fine drifting particles, visitors witness a balance of intensity and grace. A living embodiment of passion held in perfect form.
Emerald
Structured and architectural, the Emerald reveals geometric precision and natural order. Its deep green world evokes mineral forests and crystalline cathedrals. Within its symmetry lies a profound sense of harmony.
Commissioned by Cartier, this long-term collaboration brought together artists, geologists, technologists, and designers in a shared exploration of beauty through science. Cartier’s team offered access to their extraordinary collection of gemstones, each chosen for its individuality and story, and provided scientific consultation throughout the process.