That Screwdriver Is Now in Your Own Hands: Cartier LOVE's Solo Statement, Half a Century On
When it debuted in 1969, the Cartier LOVE bracelet needed two people to lock it in place. Now there's another way to wear it: screw it on yourself, tighten it yourself, and define the shape of love on your own terms.
A screwdriver used to be a two-person job. When designer Aldo Cipullo conceived the Cartier LOVE collection in 1969, the inspiration wasn't romantic at all—it was the medieval chastity belt. The oval curve and exposed screw motifs meant the bracelet had to be locked with a special screwdriver once worn, and in theory, it was your other half who did the locking. Only then was the ritual of "binding each other" complete. Half a century ago, this was a vow of voluntary confinement.
Half a century later, the meaning behind that screwdriver has loosened up. Today, you can pick it up and lock the curve onto your own wrist—not waiting for someone else to bind you, but deciding for yourself whether you want to be locked in, and who gets to see it. The gesture hasn't changed. It's the hand holding the screwdriver that has.
The reason the LOVE collection has survived over five decades without ever feeling dated comes down to its industrial, minimalist lines: the smooth oval form, the evenly spaced screw motifs, and the ergonomic curve that hugs the wrist—clean to the point of feeling almost cold, yet somehow endlessly wearable. And it's precisely because the silhouette is so pure that it can pull off the stacking styles shown in this year's new pieces—bracelets of varying widths layered together, different shades of gold placed side by side, even mixed in with a vintage watch or everyday accessories from your own collection. There's no fixed formula; how you wear it is entirely up to you. That runs counter to the bracelet's original 1969 intent, but it fits perfectly with how things work now.
For this campaign, the brand tapped Jacob Elordi as the face of the collection, following him through different pockets of light across the city. By day, on a corner amid modern architecture, the metal catches the light with sharp, effortless confidence; in the quiet of the afternoon, tucked away in a private corner, the gold lines echo the intimacy of the space, radiating something more restrained; by night, stacked on for a party under the lights, it takes on a luxe sheen with a hint of rebellion. Same bracelet, different scene, different personality every time—and that's arguably the real reason the LOVE collection has never gone out of style. It's never been attached to just one version of what love looks like.
Exact styles, material details, pricing, and release timing for this new collection have not been provided. Readers interested in learning more are advised to check directly with Cartier boutiques for the latest information.
