Cartier Amulette
Cartier Collection Encyclopedia / Amulette de Cartier
Cartier Collection Encyclopedia — Contemporary Collection
Amulette de Cartier
Amulette de Cartier is a Cartier jewelry collection launched in May 2014. The collection's defining piece is a circular padlock-form pendant set with a natural gemstone, centered by a small round-brilliant diamond, with a slim lock-spring closure visible at the top. The collection's concept is the talisman — pieces designed to hold luck and personal wishes close to the wearer. Each Amulette piece features a specific gemstone with associated symbolism: onyx for courage, mother-of-pearl for protection, lapis lazuli for peace, malachite for good fortune, carnelian for vitality, chrysoprase for creativity, and opal for happiness. The collection notably gave necklaces center stage in Cartier's contemporary portfolio for the first time, where Love, Trinity, and Juste un Clou had been bracelet-led.
A circular padlock. A gemstone. A small diamond at its center. The Amulette is Cartier's contemporary talisman — a contained wish, worn close.
Key Facts
About the Collection
A Padlock for Luck — Cartier's Contemporary Talisman
When Cartier launched the Amulette in May 2014, the maison was doing something it had not previously attempted: building a contemporary collection around the talisman concept. The collection's premise was direct — each piece would hold luck close to the wearer, with a specific gemstone supplying symbolic meaning and a circular padlock form supplying the architectural device. The padlock opens like a lock; the gemstone behind it is the wish kept inside.
The design execution is restrained. A simple circular pendant with a slim lock-spring closure arc visible at the top, the body of the pendant filled with a natural cabochon gemstone, the center marked by a single round-brilliant diamond. The whole composition is designed to hide the complexity beneath: each pendant requires precise stone-cutting to fit the gemstone seamlessly within the gold frame, the diamond setting must be perfectly centered, and the lock-spring detail must read as functional even though the piece does not actually open. The visual reads simple; the production is exacting.
The collection launched with onyx and mother-of-pearl variants, with the symbolism made explicit: onyx for courage, mother-of-pearl for protection. Subsequent expansions added the full color vocabulary — lapis lazuli for peace, malachite for good fortune, carnelian for vitality, chrysoprase for creativity, pink opal, and rare opal pieces. Each stone carries documented Cartier-assigned symbolism. The Amulette Made For You program later added private customization, allowing buyers to combine specific gemstones into personal talismans assembled to order.
For Cartier, the Amulette was a strategically significant launch. Where the maison's pillar collections (Love, Trinity, Juste un Clou, Panthère) had been bracelet-led, the Amulette gave the necklace pendant equal weight for the first time in contemporary Cartier production. The XS pendant size became the collection's defining format — small enough to layer with other Cartier necklaces, distinct enough to read as its own piece. Karlie Kloss and Poppy Delevingne were among the early visible wearers, and the collection's sales have been strong since launch.
Design Vocabulary
Four elements identify the Amulette across every variant. The combination is the collection's signature.
The Padlock Form
A circular pendant with a slim lock-spring arc visible at the top — the visual code that signals "padlock." The arc reads as a functional closure even though the pendant does not open. The padlock form is what makes the Amulette read as a talisman: the stone inside is the wish; the padlock is what keeps it safe.
The Natural Cabochon Stone
Each Amulette is built around a single natural gemstone, cut as a cabochon to fill the body of the pendant. Onyx, mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli, malachite, carnelian, chrysoprase, and opal are the documented Cartier stone variants. Each carries its own symbolic association. Stone quality follows Cartier's high jewelry standards: opaque stones with even color saturation, no visible flaws, and precise cut to fit the pendant frame.
The Center Diamond
A single round-brilliant diamond sits at the precise center of each Amulette pendant. The diamond is the design's focal point — the "key" that locks the wish in place, in the talisman reading. Diamond quality follows Cartier's standard (typically F-G color, VVS clarity for the pavé-set examples; specifications vary by piece).
The Stone-Specific Symbolism
Cartier publishes documented symbolic associations for each Amulette stone. Onyx for courage; mother-of-pearl for protection; lapis lazuli for peace and wisdom; malachite for good fortune and travel; carnelian for vitality; chrysoprase for creativity; opal for happiness. The symbolism is not incidental marketing — it is part of the collection's design framework, and the way buyers select among Amulette variants.
Pieces & Variants
The Amulette XS Necklace
The collection's most-produced and most-recognized format. A small padlock pendant on an 18K gold chain, available across all metal types (white, rose, yellow gold) and all stone variants. The XS scale makes the piece highly stackable with other Cartier necklaces — including Love, Trinity, and Juste un Clou pendants — and the most accessible entry point into the collection.
The Amulette Small & Large Necklaces
Mid-sized variants with the same construction at increased scale. The Small is approximately twice the XS size; the Large carries the design at statement scale for solo wear without the stacking emphasis. Both formats are available across the full stone vocabulary.
The Amulette XL Necklace
Reserved for statement pieces — high jewelry-tier variants with full diamond pavé programs, larger stone cabochons, and more substantial chain constructions. XL Amulette pieces are produced in smaller numbers and are positioned at the high end of the collection.
The Double-Amulette Long Necklace (2017)
Introduced in 2017 — a long necklace with two amulet elements at the termini, typically pairing contrasting stones (white mother-of-pearl on one end, black onyx on the other). The chain length adjusts by passing through the small opening at each amulet, allowing the necklace to be worn at multiple lengths and in multiple configurations.
Amulette Bracelets
The padlock motif scaled to bracelet form — a single amulet element on a fine 18K gold chain bracelet. Available in the standard stone vocabulary, in plain and diamond-set variants. Frequently stacked with Love bracelets.
Amulette Earrings
Stud and drop variants. The stud format places a small amulet element directly on the post, with the stone visible at the ear. The drop format suspends the amulet from the post, allowing the piece to move with the wearer. Mother-of-pearl, onyx, and full-diamond variants are most produced.
Amulette Rings
The padlock motif rendered as a ring face, with the stone forming the center of the ring crown and the diamond center-set. Ring formats are less commonly produced than the necklace and bracelet variants but follow the same fundamental design vocabulary. Pink opal Amulette rings are documented in the secondary market.
Amulette Made For You (Customization)
A digital customization program offered through Cartier's official channels. Buyers select two contrasting gemstones from the documented Amulette palette to create a personal talisman. Customization options include onyx, carnelian, chrysoprase, malachite, lapis lazuli, grey mother-of-pearl, and white mother-of-pearl. Production time is documented at approximately three days.
Cultural Context — The Collection That Put Cartier Necklaces Front and Center
Before the Amulette, Cartier's contemporary necklace production existed primarily as pendant scaled-down versions of bracelet-led pillar collections — a Love pendant, a Trinity pendant, a Juste un Clou necklace. The pendant was the bracelet's smaller cousin. The Amulette inverted this structure: it was conceived as a necklace collection first. The XS pendant size, the talisman concept, the stacking-friendly proportions — the entire design language was optimized for necklace presentation. Bracelets, earrings, and rings followed; the necklace led.
This made the Amulette commercially significant for Cartier in a way that has accumulated over the collection's first decade. Cartier customers who already owned Love and Trinity bracelets found in the Amulette a necklace category they could engage with on the same terms. Stacking became a documented Cartier styling pattern: a Love bracelet with an Amulette pendant, or multiple Amulette pendants in different stones layered on a single neckline. The collection's strong secondary market performance — documented industry analysis has noted that Amulette pieces sell close to retail and move quickly — reflects this stacking-friendly position.
For the secondary market, the Amulette is now in its second decade. Original 2014 launch pieces are increasingly identified as historical, with documentation appearing for early production examples. Each stone variant has its own collector following: lapis lazuli pieces are widely sought for their saturated blue; mother-of-pearl variants are the most produced and most stable in market; malachite and chrysoprase variants are produced in smaller numbers and are accruing collector interest. Diamond-paved Amulette pieces sit at the higher end of the market.
Authentication
How to Authenticate an Amulette de Cartier
Amulette authentication follows the universal Cartier framework with collection-specific construction details. The "Cartier" signature, 750 hallmark for 18K gold, and serial number appear on the pendant's back or interior surface. French-market pieces carry the eagle's head hallmark. Reference numbers (B3047300, B7224521, B3153108, and others) identify specific size-metal-stone configurations.
Stone authenticity is the most critical Amulette-specific authentication factor. The natural gemstones must be genuine: real onyx (not dyed glass or enamel), authentic lapis lazuli (with visible pyrite flecks characteristic of the stone), genuine mother-of-pearl (with appropriate iridescence and structure), real malachite (with the stone's characteristic banded pattern), and so forth. Counterfeit Amulette pieces frequently use enamel, ceramic, or lower-grade stone substitutes that fail close inspection. The stone surface should be smoothly cabochon-cut, with no visible cracks, no irregular color saturation, and seamless fit within the gold pendant frame.
The center diamond must sit precisely at the center of the pendant. Off-center diamond placement, loose stones, or visible setting work indicates either counterfeit construction or significant aftermarket modification. The diamond should be genuine round-brilliant with quality appropriate to Cartier's standards.
The lock-spring arc at the top of the pendant should be cleanly integrated with the pendant body, with the chain bail passing through it smoothly. The bail mechanism on authentic Amulette pieces operates without binding; counterfeits often fail at this functional checkpoint.
For the complete Cartier authentication framework, see our Cartier Authentication Center.
The Pre-Owned Amulette Market
The Amulette has emerged as one of the strongest contemporary Cartier collections in the secondary market. Industry analysis has documented that Amulette pieces sell at close-to-retail levels and move quickly — behavior more typical of the pillar collections than of newer launches. The collection's stacking-friendly XS format, the diversity of stone variants, and the talisman concept's broad appeal all contribute to this market position.
Value within the Amulette market is driven by several factors. Size is the primary driver: XS, Small, Large, and XL each have their own market positions, with XL pieces commanding significant premiums. Stone variant matters: diamond-paved variants sit at the top, followed by lapis lazuli and other intensely colored stones, with mother-of-pearl and onyx representing the most stable mid-market positions. Metal color affects value — rose gold variants currently track strong, with white gold consistent and yellow gold steady. Diamond content adds premium tiers.
Original documentation contributes meaningfully to value. Cartier boxes, original service papers, and reference number verification all matter, particularly for the diamond-set variants and the rarer stone configurations.
Every Amulette piece at Opulent Jewelers is individually authenticated before listing. Stone authenticity, diamond setting precision, signature engraving, serial number verification, and overall construction are verified on every piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Amulette de Cartier?
The Amulette de Cartier is a Cartier jewelry collection launched in May 2014. The collection's defining piece is a circular padlock-form pendant set with a natural gemstone, centered by a small round-brilliant diamond. Each piece is conceived as a talisman — designed to hold luck and personal wishes close to the wearer. The collection is produced in necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings.
When was the Amulette launched?
May 2014. The collection has expanded continuously since launch, with additional stone variants, the double-amulet long necklace introduced in 2017, and the Amulette Made For You customization program.
What gemstones are used in the Amulette de Cartier?
The Amulette collection uses natural cabochon gemstones, each with documented symbolic associations: onyx (courage), mother-of-pearl (protection), lapis lazuli (peace and wisdom), malachite (good fortune), carnelian (vitality), chrysoprase (creativity), and opal (happiness). Pink opal and full diamond pavé variants also appear. Stone selection is part of the collection's design framework.
What sizes does the Amulette come in?
The Amulette pendant comes in four sizes: XS (the most-produced and most-recognized format), Small, Large, and XL (reserved for statement pieces with high jewelry-tier specifications). Bracelet, earring, and ring formats follow their own size conventions.
Does the Amulette pendant actually open?
No. The padlock form is a visual concept — the slim lock-spring arc visible at the top of the pendant reads as a functional closure but the pendant does not open. The talisman concept is conceptual: the stone is the wish held close, with the padlock form symbolizing protection rather than literal containment.
How can I tell if an Amulette piece is authentic?
Authentic Amulette pieces carry the "Cartier" signature, 750 hallmark, serial number, and a specific reference number identifying size, metal, and stone configuration. Stone authenticity is the most critical Amulette-specific factor: genuine onyx, lapis lazuli with characteristic pyrite flecks, real mother-of-pearl with proper iridescence, authentic malachite with characteristic banding. The center diamond must sit precisely at the pendant's center. Counterfeits frequently use enamel, ceramic, or low-grade stone substitutes.
Does Opulent Jewelers carry the Amulette de Cartier?
Yes. Authenticated pre-owned Amulette necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings rotate through our inventory across all sizes, metals, and stone configurations. Every piece is individually authenticated before listing and accompanied by our money-back authenticity guarantee.