This year marks one hundred years since Cartier introduced one of the most enduring icons in jewellery history. The Trinity collection, first created in 1924, has become a symbol of unity, balance and timeless elegance. To celebrate this centenary milestone, Cartier presented Trinity 100 in Singapore, transforming The Arts House into an immersive experience that invited visitors to explore the story, spirit and cultural influence of a design that has transcended generations.
More than a retrospective, the Trinity 100 experience offered a living narrative. It revealed how a simple yet powerful idea has remained relevant across changing eras, styles and social landscapes. Through art, architecture and craftsmanship, Cartier reaffirmed that true icons do not age. They evolve.
A Meaningful Setting at The Arts House
The Arts House provided a fitting setting for this historic celebration. As one of Singapore’s most significant heritage buildings, it has long served as a place for dialogue, creativity and public expression. Once the seat of the nation’s first Parliament, the building now stands as a cultural landmark that bridges past and present.
By hosting Trinity 100 within this space, Cartier aligned its own century long legacy with a venue defined by history and artistic purpose. The architecture of The Arts House enhanced the exhibition experience, allowing visitors to move through grand halls and intimate chambers that echoed the themes of continuity and connection at the heart of the Trinity collection.
The venue reinforced the idea that jewellery is not merely an object of adornment, but a cultural artifact that belongs within the broader narrative of art and society.
The Power of Three
At the core of the Trinity design are three interlocking bands, crafted in white gold, yellow gold and rose gold. Each circle retains its individuality, yet together they form a unified whole. This elegant construction reflects themes that have resonated across cultures for centuries: love, friendship and loyalty, or strength, harmony and balance.
The exhibition’s opening rooms introduced visitors to the significance of the number three, exploring how simplicity can carry profound meaning. Rather than relying on elaborate ornamentation, the Trinity design celebrates form, movement and symbolism. The smooth, fluid motion of the rings allows them to glide against one another, creating a tactile experience that is as intimate as it is refined.
This understated elegance explains the enduring appeal of Trinity. It speaks quietly, yet with remarkable clarity.
Origins and Creative Vision
The journey of Trinity began with a desire to create something radically modern for its time. In an era defined by ornate jewellery and lavish gemstones, the Trinity ring stood apart through its purity of design. Its creator envisioned a piece that would express emotion and connection through structure rather than embellishment.
Over the decades, this original vision has remained intact even as the collection expanded. Bracelets, necklaces and contemporary reinterpretations have joined the original ring, each preserving the core principle of unity through form. The exhibition traced this evolution, highlighting how Cartier has continuously respected the original design while allowing it to respond to new generations.
This balance between preservation and innovation lies at the heart of the Maison’s creative philosophy.
An Artistic Circle of Influence
One of the most evocative aspects of the Trinity story is its close relationship with the arts. The exhibition explored how writers, artists and cultural figures embraced the Trinity ring as a symbol of personal identity. Among them was Jean Cocteau, whose association with the design elevated it beyond jewellery into the realm of artistic expression.
Cocteau’s affinity for the Trinity ring reflected his belief in the interconnectedness of art, life and imagination. His influence helped establish the collection as a marker of creative freedom and individuality. Through archival imagery and storytelling, the exhibition revealed how Trinity became a quiet emblem for those who valued originality and intellectual curiosity.
This artistic lineage continues to shape the collection’s cultural relevance today.
Trinity Through the Decades
As the exhibition unfolded, visitors encountered moments that charted Trinity’s presence across decades of fashion and culture. From early twentieth century society to contemporary global style, the design has appeared consistently yet effortlessly, adapting to changing aesthetics without losing its identity.
This enduring relevance lies in the design’s versatility. Trinity can be worn alone or layered, dressed up or pared back, passed from one generation to the next. It belongs as naturally to everyday life as it does to significant personal milestones.
The exhibition illustrated how Trinity has become a companion to life’s defining moments, carrying meaning that deepens with time.
The Centenary Collection Revealed
At the heart of Trinity 100 was the presentation of the centenary collection. These pieces honoured the original design while introducing new proportions and expressions. Larger scale rings, sculptural bracelets and refined finishes demonstrated how Trinity continues to evolve without compromising its essence.
The craftsmanship behind these pieces was evident in every detail. Polished surfaces, seamless construction and precise balance reflected Cartier’s mastery of jewellery making. Each creation stood as a testament to the Maison’s commitment to excellence and its respect for the original vision.
The centenary collection affirmed that innovation, when guided by heritage, can enhance rather than diminish timeless design.
Imagine Infinite Circles
The exhibition concluded with an immersive artistic installation titled Imagine Infinite Circles. This collaborative space invited artists and creatives to interpret the Trinity concept through diverse mediums including sound, light and movement. Rather than focusing solely on jewellery, the installation explored the broader idea of connection and continuity.
Visitors were encouraged to reflect on how circles extend beyond physical form, representing relationships, creativity and shared experience. The installation transformed the exhibition into a living dialogue, reinforcing the idea that Trinity’s influence reaches far beyond the realm of adornment.
It was a fitting finale to an experience that celebrated creativity without boundaries.
A Legacy That Endures
Cartier’s Trinity collection stands as proof that simplicity, when infused with meaning, can endure for a century and beyond. The Trinity 100 experience in Singapore honoured this legacy not as a fixed history, but as a living story shaped by those who wear it, reinterpret it and pass it on.
By bringing this celebration to Singapore, Cartier highlighted the universal language of design and the power of connection that transcends time and place. Trinity remains not only a masterpiece of jewellery, but a symbol of unity that continues to inspire new circles of creativity.
Written by: Linh Giang Nguyen
Published on: 15th December 2025