From blingy baubles to glossy gems, the Princess of Wales has an epic jewelry collection filled with diamonds, polished pearls and stunning sapphires. Still, there’s one piece of jewelry that Kate has worn more times than all the rest: her Cartier watch.
In honor of their third wedding anniversary, the dashing Prince William gifted his beloved wife this $6,200 accessory. Featuring blued-steel sword-shaped hands, the elegant timepiece perfectly coordinates with Kate’s sparkling Garrard sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
The future King presented Kate with the luxe bracelet watch shortly before a royal trip abroad to Australia and New Zealand. The princess wore a red Luisa Spagnoli skirt suit cinched by a black belt during a tour of New Zealand in April 2014; she was spotted wearing her new Cartier piece for walkabouts and other local engagements.
The princess was so pleased with her watch she wore it again and again; she was photographed wearing the designer watch at various events on tour including a visit to the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua.
Kate’s stainless steel watch is set with tiny sapphire crystals with a large Roman numeral dial and steel interchangeable bracelet. The size of the wrist accessory is 33mm with a silvered guilloché opaline dial, winding mechanism and black roman numerals and markers.
In modern times, the traditional third anniversary gift is either a crystal or glass present, thus, William gave Kate both with her new watch designed in Switzerland. The timepiece has a glass face and crystal sapphires.
Kate’s Cartier timepiece isn’t the only lavish Cartier accessory in her closet — the princess also owns $2550 Cartier Trinity Earrings featuring 18 karat rose gold, white gold and yellow gold intertwined hoops — each hanging from a single 1 brilliant-cut diamond totaling 0.11 carats.
In addition, the princess owns the Cartier Long Trinity Station Necklace — the $53,000 multi-strand accessory features intertwined circles of pink, yellow and white gold. All of the infinity rings are set with diamonds and hang from a long chain.
Furthermore, the princess also owns a more delicate Cartier necklace which she debuted in Paris (her one and only wear). At the Eiffel Tower, the princess was spotted in the Cartier Trinity Tri-Ring Necklace which is priced around $2000. The piece features three interlaced bands in pink, yellow and white gold all hanging off a dainty gold chain. Each ring symbolizes a virtue or relationship like love, fidelity and friendship.
The princess also owns a pair of hoop earrings from the Parisian jeweler — the Cariter Diamond Trinity Hoop Earrings. The nearly $50,000 earrings feature rose, white and yellow gold interlocked hoops with delicate diamonds amounting to 7.35 carats.
In total, Kate’s Cartier collection is worth around $114,000 and includes her Cartier Trinity Diamond Hoops, Cartier Trinity Earrings, Cartier Trinity Long Station Necklace, Cartier Trinity Tri-Rings Necklace and Cartier Ballon Bleu Watch.
Princess Kate’s anniversary gift — her beloved watch has been worn on royal engagements, tours and for family photos on around 110 occasions. The watch has remained Kate’s go-to accessory for school visits, forums, European travels and Wimbledon.
The princess is not the only member of the royal household who owns a Cartier watch. The Duchess of Sussex owns the brand’s French Tank Watch. Previously, she donned the Tank Francaise small yellow gold and steel watch while living in Toronto. She owns the same watch in gold — a royal heirloom from Princess Diana’s collection.
In addition, Kate is not the only Middleton who covets Cartier. In fact, Kate’s younger sister Pippa Matthews owns a matching $18,000 timepiece from the French luxury brand. She has been spotted in the same 33mm sized wristwatch as Kate but her Ballon Bleu is a mixture of steel and 18 karat pink gold with a distinctive face featuring 50 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 0.63 carats. Pippa’s watch was also believed to have been a gift; she was reportedly presented with the watch pre-marriage from her then fiancé British racing driver and hedge fund manager James Matthews.
Still, Kate’s relatively modest watch is nothing compared to her most pricey and posh Cartier accessory: the Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara. Loaned to the princess for April 2011 wedding day, courtesy of Queen Elizabeth II, this magnificent diadem is made of platinum and features 739 brilliant-cut diamonds, along with 149 baguette-cut diamonds (with an estimated cost 1.5 million). The sparkling headpiece has appeared on the princess on the single occasion of her wedding day.
