The jewel in Ocean’s crown

According to their PR department, the decision to proceed with the project stems from Cartier’s history of empowering women with the boldness to be themselves. 
“Ocean’s 8”, which opened in Thailand last week, is the newest entry in the successful “Ocean’s” franchise. It’s directed and co-written by Gary Ross and stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, with Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter. Set partly at New York City's star-studded annual Met Gala, the target of the con is the Toussaint – a legendary diamond necklace, made by Cartier, to be worn by actress Daphne Kluger (played by Anne Hathaway).
The refined jewellery brand was a challenge and a thrilling venture for the jeweller, which was asked to create a very specific parure for the film’s ultimate heist.
For this very special order, Cartier mobilised the resources of its High Jewellery workshops situated rue de la Paix in Paris. The best jewellers were required to accomplish this feat in no more than eight weeks, a demanding task on top of their everyday assignments. This is how, for a dreamlike creation designed for cinema, Cartier dedicated the best of its trade and resources and flew the necklace from Paris to New York.
Cartier was also the exclusive on-site jeweller during filming at the Metropolitan Museum. For five consecutive nights, jewellery was loaned to those making cameo appearances in the movie with pieces ranging from Cartier Collection to current New or High Jewellery, as well as watches and accessories. 
Prominently featured in the film, the Cartier Mansion, a New York City landmark, became the location of major scenes. For two days, the Mansion was closed to enable filming and its Salons were transformed into cinema sets. The exterior of the Mansion on 52nd Street is also featured in the film.
The necklace, known as the Jeanne Toussaint, is a tribute to Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s Creative Director in the 1930s whose role was decisive in establishing the Maison’s stylistic identity. Above anyone else, she was the first woman to embody Cartier’s bold and fearless spirit. Throughout her career, she favoured Indian style as a source of inspiration amongst others, paying homage to the splendour and opulence of the Maharajas. 

The original necklace was designed in 1931 for the Maharaja of Nawanagar by Jacques Cartier. Described as “the finest cascade of coloured diamonds in the world,” it included the Queen of Holland, a blue-white diamond weighing 136.25 carats. For Jacques Cartier it was “a superb realisation of a connoisseur’s dream.”
This jewel no longer exists; however, Cartier preserved in its archives a design drawing and photographs of the piece and its owner. The creation sketch was used as a reference for the realisation of the Toussaint necklace, which plays a pivotal character in the story.
The necklace was adjusted to Anne Hathaway’s measurements and reduced by 15 to 20 per cent of the original size, as it was initially designed for a man. Dismountable bezels were devised to successfully adapt the jewel to match Hathaway’s proportions. Thanks to their expertise, when the actress wore it for the first time in New York, the necklace fit her perfectly. 
For the film – in which the Toussaint is comprised of flawless, colourless diamonds – the coloured diamonds were replaced with zirconium oxides, a natural material, mounted on white gold. 
The necklace had to be solid enough to withstand frequent manipulations during filming. Meticulous attention was paid to the finishing of the settings and polishing, as close-ups would not allow for any imprecision. The Jeanne Toussaint Necklace meets in all aspects the Cartier High Jewellery requirements in terms of craftsmanship and excellence.