An encounter of contemporary Thai architecture and unique style of the Maison
Cartier, a renowned French luxury Maison, has unveiled the newly renovated boutique at Siam Paragon. Inspired by traditional Thai houses, the boutique’s design pays tribute to Cartier’s living heritage, while celebrating the culture and tradition of Thailand.
The long-standing relationship between Cartier and Siam started in 1907 when the French jeweller was awarded a royal warrant of appointment with the royal seal of King Chulalongkorn, the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. The appointment followed the King’s royal visit to Europe when he paid a visit to Cartier’s flagship boutique at 13 rue de la Paix in Paris. King Chulalongkorn bought high jewellery for Queen Sri Bajrindra as a stratagem to build the image of Siam as an equally civilised nation with European colonisers to forestall these colonial powers from targeting at Siam.
Cartier Siam Paragon Boutique has opened its door in 2006. Over the past 15 years, it has always been instrumental to Cartier’s presence in Thailand. The major renovation of this boutique marks 115 years of relationship between Cartier and the Court of Siam, filling its 400-square-metre space with elements of Thai architecture based on a design concept inspired by traditional Thai houses together with subtle combination of Cartier’s iconic design elements right from the first step into the boutique.
The long-standing relationship between Cartier and Siam started in 1907 when the French jeweller was awarded a royal warrant of appointment with the royal seal of King Chulalongkorn, the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. The appointment followed the King’s royal visit to Europe when he paid a visit to Cartier’s flagship boutique at 13 rue de la Paix in Paris. King Chulalongkorn bought high jewellery for Queen Sri Bajrindra as a stratagem to build the image of Siam as an equally civilised nation with European colonisers to forestall these colonial powers from targeting at Siam.
Cartier Siam Paragon Boutique has opened its door in 2006. Over the past 15 years, it has always been instrumental to Cartier’s presence in Thailand. The major renovation of this boutique marks 115 years of relationship between Cartier and the Court of Siam, filling its 400-square-metre space with elements of Thai architecture based on a design concept inspired by traditional Thai houses together with subtle combination of Cartier’s iconic design elements right from the first step into the boutique.
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The façade gives a feel of lightness using glass, marble and gold-braided patterns that also makes an interpretation to wall panels of traditional Thai houses. The wall of welcoming area is adorned with bas-relief sculpture that depicts beautiful iconic landscape of temples in Bangkok with presence of 'Panther', as if the Cartier's emblem has made a journey to Thailand. Rooms are interconnected with wooden arched doors. Walls in the Prestige room is embellished with mosaic tiles inspired by temple art. Thai silk is also used all over as the upholstery for cladded walls and sofas.
The boutique is also adorned with decorative pieces and paintings that allude to Thailand and its art and culture. Among them, a chandelier gives visual impression of falling raindrops, suggesting tropical climate of Thailand where the monsoon season lasts as long as five months. The chandelier was exclusively designed and crafted for this flagship Boutique Cartier in Thailand, making it the first and one of a kind in the world. The walls of the boutique’s Central Space are decorated with woven fabrics with design of golden shower (Ratchaphruek) as the national flower of Thailand. The heart of interior décor is to create light and airy feel along with modern touch of elegant simplicity while retaining intimate ambience and cozy, welcoming attitudes. Cécile Naour, CEO of Cartier Southeast Asia and Oceania said, “the new boutique that you are discovering today, is a matrimony and a subtle blend between the richness of Thai culture and the Maison codes and aesthetics. Its brightness, use of beautiful curves and traditional crafts encrusted everywhere, make it unique and unprecedented. Light, transparency and luxurious materials create a serene, precious, elegant and warm environment that you will be enchanted to re-discover.”
To make this anniversary celebration truly remarkable, Cartier introduces Cartier Tank Asymétrique Siam Limited Edition, which is based on Cartier Tank Asymétrique, a watch in the wish list of collectors. Tank Asymétrique is made unique by its asymmetric rectangular dial with an offset that shifts the right side up by 30 degrees, resulting in diamond-like lozenge with number 12 shifted to the uppermost corner rightwards and number 6 down to the lowermost corner to leftwards. As a result of uniquely-shaped dial, its strap is also distinctive from those of other watches. The Tank Asymétrique Siam Limited Edition adds local design elements exclusively to this special edition, including platinum case, ruby crown, Thai numerals, and engraving of the name “Siam” alongside individual number of this limited edition. The watch comes in collector’s box with design of a panther gracing in exquisite backdrop of temples in Thailand. Also included in the box is a second alligator-skin strap in Siamese Ruby colour that the users can easily change by themselves. The edition is produced in a very limited number of 55 units.
To celebrate the renovation of this flagship boutique, Cartier is also holding an exhibition from 18 October to 18 November 2021 that brings together rare and historic creations from the Cartier Collection, historic and exceptional pieces from the Maison Cartier that had been produced in its earlier years jewellery, timepieces and other precious accessories were collected for conservation. These pieces act as material records of Cartier’s over 170-year history of style and creativity and also provide a wider historical account of evolutions within the decorative arts as well as in society since the end of the 19th century.
The exhibition highlights the Cartier necklace that King Chulalongkorn gifted to Queen Sri Bajrindra (Saovabha Phongsri) during his royal visit to Europe. Other exhibits include Cartier diamond brooches in Garland Style, the Maison’s iconic technique that are popular among royal courts worldwide; a jewellery collection of diamonds on platinum settings that resulted from Louis Cartier’s pioneering use of platinum instead of silver due to its lustrous appeal and ability to bring out the true qualities of diamonds; and sets of diamond jewellery that retrace the evolution of style, lines and techniques through different periods of the Maison.
The Cartier Siam Paragon Boutique is located on M Level of the shopping centre. It is open from today onwards.
The boutique is also adorned with decorative pieces and paintings that allude to Thailand and its art and culture. Among them, a chandelier gives visual impression of falling raindrops, suggesting tropical climate of Thailand where the monsoon season lasts as long as five months. The chandelier was exclusively designed and crafted for this flagship Boutique Cartier in Thailand, making it the first and one of a kind in the world. The walls of the boutique’s Central Space are decorated with woven fabrics with design of golden shower (Ratchaphruek) as the national flower of Thailand. The heart of interior décor is to create light and airy feel along with modern touch of elegant simplicity while retaining intimate ambience and cozy, welcoming attitudes. Cécile Naour, CEO of Cartier Southeast Asia and Oceania said, “the new boutique that you are discovering today, is a matrimony and a subtle blend between the richness of Thai culture and the Maison codes and aesthetics. Its brightness, use of beautiful curves and traditional crafts encrusted everywhere, make it unique and unprecedented. Light, transparency and luxurious materials create a serene, precious, elegant and warm environment that you will be enchanted to re-discover.”
To make this anniversary celebration truly remarkable, Cartier introduces Cartier Tank Asymétrique Siam Limited Edition, which is based on Cartier Tank Asymétrique, a watch in the wish list of collectors. Tank Asymétrique is made unique by its asymmetric rectangular dial with an offset that shifts the right side up by 30 degrees, resulting in diamond-like lozenge with number 12 shifted to the uppermost corner rightwards and number 6 down to the lowermost corner to leftwards. As a result of uniquely-shaped dial, its strap is also distinctive from those of other watches. The Tank Asymétrique Siam Limited Edition adds local design elements exclusively to this special edition, including platinum case, ruby crown, Thai numerals, and engraving of the name “Siam” alongside individual number of this limited edition. The watch comes in collector’s box with design of a panther gracing in exquisite backdrop of temples in Thailand. Also included in the box is a second alligator-skin strap in Siamese Ruby colour that the users can easily change by themselves. The edition is produced in a very limited number of 55 units.
To celebrate the renovation of this flagship boutique, Cartier is also holding an exhibition from 18 October to 18 November 2021 that brings together rare and historic creations from the Cartier Collection, historic and exceptional pieces from the Maison Cartier that had been produced in its earlier years jewellery, timepieces and other precious accessories were collected for conservation. These pieces act as material records of Cartier’s over 170-year history of style and creativity and also provide a wider historical account of evolutions within the decorative arts as well as in society since the end of the 19th century.
The exhibition highlights the Cartier necklace that King Chulalongkorn gifted to Queen Sri Bajrindra (Saovabha Phongsri) during his royal visit to Europe. Other exhibits include Cartier diamond brooches in Garland Style, the Maison’s iconic technique that are popular among royal courts worldwide; a jewellery collection of diamonds on platinum settings that resulted from Louis Cartier’s pioneering use of platinum instead of silver due to its lustrous appeal and ability to bring out the true qualities of diamonds; and sets of diamond jewellery that retrace the evolution of style, lines and techniques through different periods of the Maison.
The Cartier Siam Paragon Boutique is located on M Level of the shopping centre. It is open from today onwards.
