Cartier is opening the doors to "Into the Wild," a new exhibition in Miami's Design District that explores over a century of the brand's most famous motif: the panther. Starting Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 7, visitors can book free admission to experience the story behind an emblem that's been turning heads since 1914.

The Woman Who Made the Panther Iconic

While the panther first appeared on a Cartier watch in 1914 (with onyx and diamond spots, naturally), the real story starts with Jeanne Toussaint. Louis Cartier brought her on board in the early 1910s after being impressed by her creative vision. She started designing handbags and eventually became Head of Accessories before making history in 1933 as Creative Director. This made her one of the first women to hold such a high-ranking position in the luxury industry.

Toussaint earned the nickname "La Panthère" herself, and in the 1940s, she introduced the sculptural, three-dimensional panther designs that Cartier is known for today. Her taste and style became the foundation for what the brand still creates now.

Five Rooms, Five Different Stories

The exhibition takes visitors through five separate spaces, each focusing on a different aspect of the panther's history and creation. The experience starts with "The Panthère Saga," where you'll see a timeline of the panther's evolution at Cartier, including the first figurative panther design from a 1917 cigarette case.

From there, you move into a gallery dedicated entirely to Jeanne Toussaint. Here, rare pieces from the Cartier Collection are on display, including a cabochon-cut emerald bird brooch from 1944 and a yellow diamond tiger bracelet from 1967. You'll also see modern pieces that still carry her signature aesthetic.

Three Ways to See a Panther

The third space explores how Cartier represents the panther in different styles: naturalistic (think realistic animal forms), graphic (bold, stylized patterns), and abstract (more conceptual interpretations). Historic collection pieces sit next to current jewelry and watches, showing how the brand has evolved while staying true to the core concept.

Behind the Scenes of Luxury Craftsmanship

One of the more interesting rooms features four workbenches that demonstrate the technical skills required to create these pieces. Each bench focuses on a specific technique: sculpture, glyptics (the art of carving precious stones), fur setting (creating the texture of animal fur with gems), and other specialized crafts. Display cases show finished Cartier creations that showcase each method.

Where Wild Things Live

The final room, designed by artist Clare Celeste, features an installation of oversized hand-cut flowers, trees, and plants. It's meant to represent the broader "wild fauna universe" at Cartier, which includes not just panthers but other animals, mythical creatures, and invented life forms. Visitors can walk through the space and discover cases of Cartier pieces throughout.

How to Visit

"Into the Wild" is located at 23 NE 41st St in Miami and runs from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm each day (December 5-7). Admission is free, but you'll need to reserve a time slot in advance. Given that it's only open for three days, spots will probably fill up fast.

For anyone interested in jewelry history, design, or just curious about how a luxury brand builds an identity around a single image for over 100 years, it's worth checking out.