Celebrities large and small from the past 50 years have been spotted wearing them. It’s rumored that some NYC hospitals keep their screwdriver accessory on hand for emergencies. And urban legend has it that the jewelry Maison gave these out to some of the most famous couples in the 70s and 80s. We’re talking, of course, about the Cartier LOVE bracelet.
If you look closely at red carpet images or paparazzi photos, you’re sure to spot one. They’ve been a favorite of both men and women since they debuted in 1970. Browse through shots of celebrities from Tina Turner and Ali MacGraw to Eva Mendes and Jennifer Anniston – chances are you’ll find that iconic oval bracelet.
The design, according to the Maison, is “a love child of 1970s New York”. It was created by jewelry designer Aldo Cipullo, who had previously designed jewelry for Tiffany & Co. and went on to design more iconic pieces for Cartier, including the Juste un Clou bracelet. Cipullo’s goal with the LOVE bracelet was to design a piece of fine jewelry that could be worn every day, a rather revolutionary idea for the late 60s/early 70s when fine jewelry was reserved for fancy occasions only.
With the goal of creating a piece of everyday fine jewelry, Cipullo created a bracelet that could only be put on or taken off with the help of a precious metal screwdriver that came with the bracelet. One theory for the design was that the wearer would need someone, like a lover, to help them put it on and take it off. Another theory is that the bracelet can be worn forever, echoing the idea of never-ending love.
Today, the Cartier LOVE Collection includes the classic bracelet as well as rings, earrings, diamonds, and necklaces. The bracelet collection includes all-metal pieces as well as bracelets with one, four, six, or 10 diamonds and a full pave version. According to the Cartier website, the price range is between $4,450 to $62,000!
In the US, LOVE bracelets can only be purchased from Cartier directly, and while this may seem inconvenient, it’s actually a blessing. With the bracelet popular for so many years, Cartier says it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish true LOVE bracelets from copies. So if you are looking to buy the real deal, you need to go right to the source.
With the LOVE bracelet being such an icon for such a long time, there are plenty of these bracelets sitting in their boxes alongside their screwdrivers collecting dust. If you or someone you know has one of these long-forgotten bracelets, consider selling it with Worthy. In our long career of partnering with people to sell their jewelry, we have sold countless Cartier LOVE bracelets for fair market value. So whether you received yours as a gift from a former love interest you’d like to forget, or if it’s no longer even part of your everyday jewelry selection, sell it and use the money to buy something you really LOVE.
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