Last Chance: NGV's Blockbuster Cartier Exhibition Closes on 4 October
Nearly 400 jewels, timepieces and objects worn by royalty and Hollywood stars. Melbourne's winter blockbuster enters its final days with extended hours.
If you have been meaning to get to the National Gallery of Victoria's Cartier exhibition, the clock is ticking. This year's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces show closes on Sunday 4 October, and the NGV has added extended opening hours for the final weekend to cope with demand.
Four hundred reasons to go
CARTIER brings together nearly 400 jewels, timepieces and jewellery objects, tracing the French house from its early years at the turn of the 20th century to its most recent creations. Many of the pieces were commissioned, owned or worn by royalty and Hollywood stars, and the show is exclusive to Melbourne, with loans from major international collections and private owners alongside highlights from the Cartier Collection itself.
It is not just a parade of diamonds. Design drawings, sketchbooks and archive photographs show how the pieces were conceived and made, giving a rare look at the craftsmanship behind the sparkle.
What to look out for
The exhibition is organised into themes that make it easy to follow the story. Highlights include:
- Cartier's panther, traced from its first appearance to the house's best-known motif
- Jeanne Toussaint, the influential creative director who shaped the Cartier style
- Tiaras, presented as the pinnacle of the jeweller's art
- Cartier and film, exploring the house's long relationship with Hollywood
- Timepieces and the technical ingenuity behind them
The exhibition was created by the V&A in London in partnership with the NGV and in collaboration with Cartier. The design is by Rotterdam practices Studio Sabine Marcelis and CLOUD, and it is worth noticing in its own right.
Plan your visit
- Where: NGV International, Ground Level, St Kilda Road, Melbourne
- Closes: Sunday 4 October 2026
- Hours: daily 10am to 5pm, extended to 9am to 5pm on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October, and 8am to 7pm on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October
- NGV Friday Nights: 6pm to 10pm with a Friday Nights ticket, combining late exhibition access with live music and French-inspired food
- Tickets: ticketed, with timed and flexible entry options via the NGV
Our tip: book a timed entry for a weekday morning. The final weekend will be busy.
Source: National Gallery of Victoria. Image courtesy of NGV.
