Over the years there have been many brands that have come and gone, but throughout this time, Cartier has managed to maintain its position among the top luxury brands in the world.
Loved for its timeless and unique collections, it can be hard to choose which one is your favorite, and we get it. When it comes to their rings collections, the love ring and Trinity ring are both at the top of the list.
It’s not just their impeccable design but the depth of meaning they carry, that makes both rings so appealing to many. When they both have a lot to offer, how can you possibly choose between the two?
That’s why we wrote this article, as a comparison between these two iconic rings so you can decide which one would be better for you.
About Cartier Love Ring.
The Cartier love collection has been around for decades now, since 1969. The first piece was designed by Aldo Cipullo, a young Romanian designer a renowned name in the industry at the time.
The piece was a bracelet and it was designed even before he joined the company as one of their designers. Aldo first tried selling the concept to Tiffany, where he worked at the time.
It was after Tiffany rejected it that he pitched it to Cartier and was accepted. The bracelet became Aldo’s first of his unique designs for Cartier.
The Cartier love ring borrows heavily from the design of the bracelet. A fusion between mechanics and jewelry. It features a simple circular shape band with screw carvings evenly spaced around it.
It is made of metal, specifically, 18 K yellow, white, or rose gold as well as platinum. Some variation of the design features a diamond set along with the entire band or small diamond cuts in place of or alternating with the screws along with the band.
Like the bracelet, the love ring is designed for daily wear, even though it may not require a screwdriver to close it or open it up.
The Cartier love collection in general, changed the perception of many people when it came to luxury jewelry at the time. Aside from the unique clasp mechanism, the collection, also changed how people wore luxury jewelry.
Initially, expensive pieces were stored away and saved for special occasions only. This is what contributed to why the love ring and the entire collection stood out from the rest and are still the most sought-after pieces even today.
What Does The Cartier Love Ring Stand For?
As we mentioned, it’s not just about its unique design but also what the ring represents. The inspiration of the Cartier love collection is said to be somewhat contradictory.
At the time Aldo was inspired to create the design, he had gone through a break-up. As such, he wanted to create something that no one could take away. He aimed to come up with a more permanent love symbol.
The Cartier love ring, therefore, is a representation of long-lasting love. With the bracelet, by locking the screw and handing the screwdriver to your partner, it is an indication that you surrender yourselves to them and the relationship.
It’s like locking yourself in the relationship as a demonstration of your commitment. Sharing the same design, you can say that the ring also carries the same meaning. Some may also interpret it differently.
Considering that the ring doesn’t require a screw to close it, you could say that, while its screw motif gives a sense of permeance, the ring represents more of a free-spirited type of love.
What’s more, the design of the love collection was said to have also been inspired by the chastity belt that was used in medieval times. This is another sign that the love ring also represented loyalty and fidelity between a couple.
It is the declaration of love and exclusivity that makes the ring so appealing to many people around the world. Additionally, it doesn’t just have to be between two people, it can also be a representation and reminder of self-love.
Pros And Cons Of Cartier Love Ring.
As great as the Love ring is, it has some downsides too. The following are the main pros and cons:
Pros.
- It’s a timeless piece.
- Can be worn daily.
- Compliments any outfit.
- It is made of durable, high-quality material.
- Easy to take off and put on.
- Is a powerful symbol of love.
- Requires minimal maintenance.
Cons.
- It is costly.
- It scratches easily.
- It is mainstream, everyone has it.
About Trinity Ring.
Before there was the Love collection, there was the Lover ring, the Trinity collection. It is the oldest and longest-running in the brand’s portfolio. The Trinity ring was designed and released in 1924, by the founder’s grandson, Louis Cartier.
He made the design for his friend and famous poet and playwright, Jean Cocteau, who had dreamt of the Saturn rings and wanted something close.
The ring‘s design featured three different rolling bands made of yellow, white, and rose gold. The three bands were interlocked together. The piece revolutionized Cartier’s style code.
Aside from the ring, a matching bracelet was created to pair with it and released to the public. The two received immense positive responses from the public, and it wasn’t just because an influential figure like Cocteau made it his own.
Its impeccable design and the meaning that could be derived from it also appealed to many. Many big personalities over the years have been spotted wearing the ring or bracelet or both.
The design has also evolved over the years, creating the trinity collection. Today, some earrings and necklaces mimic the Trinity design, in the collection. The ring also has variations.
You could get one with channel-set diamonds on all bands, or pave-setting on one band. Some variations have a few diamonds cuts on each band. There are also no hard rules about the metal combination. Some variations have two of the three metals in the original.
What Does The Cartier Trinity Ring Stand For?
Although Aldo’s design is called the Cartier Love collection, the trinity ring had been used as a representation of love long before. Each of the bands on the ring and their color represented three aspects of a relationship.
The white gold is a representation of friendship in terms of true never-ending companionship. Yellow gold represents fidelity, which means one’s loyalty and devotion to a relationship. Lastly rose (pink) gold is a representation of true and pure love that’s eternal and long-lasting.
While that was the main meaning behind the Cartier Trinity ring, it can take up any meaning you give it. It can represent any three aspects you feel are important for you.
The Russians used to use it as a wedding band. They believed the three bands represented the Holy Trinity, that is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
They could also represent the Celtic knot of three intersecting circles, which neo-pagans believe to be a representation of the three natures of the mother goddess.
Pros And Cons Of Cartier Trinity Ring.
The following are the main advantages and disadvantages of the Cartier Trinity ring:
Pros.
- It has deep symbolism with endless interpretations.
- It is made using durable quality metals.
- It is versatile and easy to style.
- Has a unique design.
- It is a classic and timeless piece.
Cons.
- It is costly.
- Difficult to resize.
- Requires special fitting to be comfortable.
- Scratches easily.
Cartier Love Ring Or Trinity Ring-Which One Should You Buy?
Now that you know more about both types of rings as well as the advantages and disadvantages, they come with, which one is better? There is no simple definite answer to this question.
In both design and meaning, the Trinity and Cartier are unique and have an endless interpretation of what they represent. They are also both classic and timeless pieces although the Trinity ring has been around for almost a century now.
The Cartier love rings are, however, more of a minimalist look than that of a Trinity ring. The Trinity ring design is also more vintage.
Since there isn’t much that sets them apart or gives one an advantage, the choice of which is better will depend on your preference. Which one are you more comfortable wearing and which one do you wear best?
Conclusion
Both the Cartier Love and Trinity rings are amazing classics from the brand’s collection.
They each have unique designs and are powerful symbols of love.
They could both make unique wedding bands for those willing to think out of the box.
So, when there isn’t much of an advantage of one over the other, you can base your choice on comfort and preference.
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Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.