Cartier Juste un Clou
Cartier Juste un Clou 18K White Gold Classic Bracelet with Diamonds, Size 15
Cartier Juste un Clou Classic Model 18k Yellow Gold Bangle Bracelet Sz 16
Cartier Juste un Clou 18K Yellow Gold Full Pave Diamond Nail Bangle Bracelet, Size 15
Cartier Juste un Clou
"What I really wanted was to make jewelry that looked like nothing — like an everyday object made beautiful."
— Aldo Cipullo, designer
A common nail. Bent into something extraordinary.
Aldo Cipullo designed the Juste un Clou in 1971 — five years after the Love bracelet, in the same downtown Manhattan studio. The premise was simple. Take a hardware-store nail. Wrap it around the wrist. Render it in 18-karat gold. The result was something Cartier hadn't made before: jewelry that referenced the street rather than the salon.
The collection was discontinued, then revived in 2012. Today it spans bracelets, rings, necklaces, and earrings — each piece keeping Cipullo's original silhouette. The head of the nail at one end. The pointed tip at the other. A graceful curve in between.
Among collectors, the bracelet is often called the "Cartier nail bracelet" and the ring the "Cartier nail ring." Both names are correct. Both describe pieces that have become quiet symbols of confident, unfussy luxury.
Browse the collection.
Every Juste un Clou piece in our inventory is authenticated and ready to ship. Choose by category below.
Every piece, fully authenticated.
Multi-point inspection
Every Juste un Clou piece passes through hallmark verification, weight calibration, and serial-number cross-reference before listing.
Original documentation
Where available, original Cartier boxes, certificates, and service papers accompany the piece. Provenance is documented when known.
Money-back guarantee
If any piece is found to differ from its description, return it for a full refund. Our authentication is unconditional.
Specialist support
Our team carries over a century of combined estate jewelry experience. Questions on size, condition, or history are answered directly.
About the Juste un Clou.
What does "Juste un Clou" mean?
"Juste un clou" is French for "just a nail." The phrase reflects Aldo Cipullo's design intent — taking the most ordinary object in the toolbox and transforming it into something Cartier would put its name on. The collection is sometimes referred to in English as the Cartier nail bracelet or Cartier nail ring.
How is it pronounced?
Roughly "zhoost uhn cloo." The French is soft, with the final "s" of "juste" silent and "clou" rhyming with "you."
When was Juste un Clou created?
Cipullo designed the original bracelet in 1971. The full collection — bracelet, ring, necklace, and earrings — was officially relaunched by Cartier in 2012 and has remained in continuous production since.
Is the Juste un Clou solid gold?
Yes. Cartier produces Juste un Clou pieces in 18-karat yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold. Diamond-set versions feature pavé-set round brilliant diamonds along the length of the nail.
How does the bracelet open?
The Juste un Clou bracelet uses a hidden hinge mechanism at the head of the nail. A small latch on the underside releases the curve so the piece can be slipped onto the wrist, then closed flush.
Does Opulent Jewelers sell pre-owned Juste un Clou?
Every piece in this collection is pre-owned, authenticated, and inspected. We do not sell new-from-boutique inventory. Each Juste un Clou piece is sourced from private estates and verified against Cartier's published references.