The Must de Cartier eyewear collection revolutionized the luxury eyewear industry by combining timeless elegance with innovative design. Introduced in the 1980s, it elevated eyewear from a functional accessory to a high-fashion statement piece, blending the precision craftsmanship Cartier is known for with bold, distinctive styles. The collection's use of luxurious materials like precious stones, solid gold, buffalo horn, and bubinga wood set new standards for exclusivity and sophistication in eyewear, shaping the luxury market for years to come.
Below we've outlined a chronological history of Cartier eyewear directly from its inception in the 1980s;
1984- The Haute Joaillerie collection underscored CARTIER’s image as a jeweler in the world of eyewear as well: ‘Jeweller of Kings and King of Jewellers’. 1985 Additional sizes and a new style for Must and Vendome models: the ‘Laque’ design.
1986- The first Lunette CARTIER especially for women – the Romance model in a Louis Cartier style.
1987- Presenting the first Lunettes CARTIER reading glasses – the Demi-Lune model in the Louis Cartier, Santos, and Laque styles.
1988- Two more models were launched: the Tank Louis Cartier for men and the S = Sapphire for women (later supplemented in models with rubies and diamonds).
1989- CARTIER’s successful Panthère series of products was supplemented by the Lunettes Panthère model.
1990- The sunglasses rank among the best-known and most successful Les Must de Cartier products around the world.
1991- The Bois Précieux collection introduced new exquisite materials and a stronger focus on sunglasses.
1992- Lunettes CARTIER launched its first dedicated sunglasses collection: Composite sous le soleil (the Composite models).
1993- Summer launch of the two Composite models Conquete and Vertigo (in black and gold and blue and platinum), Autumn launch of the second metal generation: a collection of high-quality rimless glasses.
1994- The launch of the Giverny design added another model to the Bois Précieux collection; The Composite model's Frisson, Vitesse, and Cabriolappeared in new colours; With the Demi-Cerclés collection, Lunettes CARTIER produced its first semi-rimless glasses.
Detroit’s cultural influence, particularly its legacy of innovation, music, and urban style, helped elevate the Cartier Giverny model to global status. The city’s connection to high-quality manufacturing mirrored Cartier’s craftsmanship, while Detroit’s music scene and fashion trends popularized luxury accessories like the Giverny sunglasses. This crossover from luxury to urban fashion solidified the eyewear as an iconic, aspirational piece worldwide.
