50 Years Later, This Bangle Is Still the Ultimate Status Symbol

My grandma is a practical woman; growing up on a rural farm in Canada will make you so. She's also incredibly knowledgeable, as all grandmothers tend to be. This potent combination means that you will do well to listen when she gives advice. I've made many of my most significant life decisions based on her sage wisdom alone (I regret none), and one of the lessons she taught me and continues to stand by is that designer jewellery is a wise investment.

"Flashy" is not a word I'd use to describe her, but a peek inside her jewellery box would tell you otherwise. It may be a small edit akin to a jewellery capsule wardrobe, but every piece inside is of the highest quality, with some illustrious names in the mix. One in particular that'll get you places in the world of fine jewellery is Cartier.

Founded in Paris in 1847, what was once a small workshop has gone on to become one of, if not the, most iconic jewellery brands in history. Cartier historically worked closely with countless sovereigns and royal families worldwide, creating everything from crowns and tiaras to necklaces and earrings. The brand has since become a regular on the red carpet, with celebrities wearing its glittering creations for premieres, award season and industry events.

However, Cartier isn't all about ornate pieces (though it does them exceptionally well). Some of its most recognisable jewellery, particularly the designs that have become status symbols, has an industrial aesthetic. Like the Tank watch, which, as its name suggests, derives its design from the military vehicle, or the triptych-style Trinity collection, the French maison is practical in its approach to ensuring daily rituals like checking the time or adorning yourself in jewellery are as beautiful as possible.

No better design embodies this attitude than the Juste Un Clou bangle.

What Is the Cartier Juste un Clou Bangle?

We all know the well-loved and adored Cartier Love Bracelet. Consider the Cartier Juste un Clou bangle its younger and easier-to-remove sister. Inspired by a humble metal nail, if the Love Bracelet is known for its bolted fastening using a gilded screwdriver, the Juste un Clou is the objet d'art equivalent of a nail. The design itself has been interpreted and reconfigured numerous times since its first release in 1971, but all pieces share the same motif: a broadened circular flat head that curves into a faceted diamond-shaped spike, which loops around your wrist or finger.

What Is the Meaning Behind Juste un Clou?

Juste un Clou literally translates in French to "just a nail". The piece was designed at Cartier New York and was initially called the Nail Bracelet upon its debut. However, the 2000 rendition saw it changed to the now-iconic name.

Why Is the Juste un Clou Bracelet So Famous?

The Juste un Clou bangle was designed by Aldo Cipullo, the brand's late jewellery designer, who had a distinct minimalist and androgynous style with a love of all things nuts, bolts and screws. The Juste un Clou, along with the Love Bracelet, made Cartier relevant to a younger, more fashionable audience, with the pieces soon commanding a cult following.

As the story goes, the Italian expat was fascinated with the mode of coveting mundane, everyday objects. At the time, discerning shoppers wanted less showy pieces whilst still favouring designs that conveyed their taste, wealth and insight. Like how Elsa Peretti elevated the bean for Tiffany, Cipullo and Cartier ensured that hardware was given a new and more opulent meaning.

What Is the Significance of the Nail Bracelet?

The Juste un Clou bangle or "nail bracelet" is significant because it broke conventions when it was launched, and continues to rewrite tradition. Whilst satirising household objects to make them desirable is commonplace now—look at Balenciaga's collaboration with Erewhon, JW Anderson's famous pigeon purse, or even the literal baguette bag Rihanna recently wore, which was more supermarket than Fendi—this idea was rather rebellious at the time.

In a world post-extreme rationing in the wake of WWII, this resourcefulness was a marker of innovation that revolutionised the jewellery industry. To this day, the Juste un Clou's disruptive design continues to be one of Cartier's most enduring pieces.

Is the Cartier Juste un Clou Still Popular?

The Juste un Clou is a timeless piece that never wanes in popularity. So much so that Cartier has continually introduced reinterpretations of the design since its release. In 2012, the brand relaunched the Juste un Clou bangle and released an entirely new collection based around it. The new Juste un Clou offering included rings in addition to bracelets, all shaped like gracefully bent nails, like the original, but with a modern twist. Each was made in rose, white and yellow gold, and some were outfitted with pavé diamonds set into the head of the nail.

In 2017, the Juste un Clou collection grew to encapsulate earrings, cufflinks, tie pins and an achingly cool torque necklace (you may have even seen Meghan Markle in it at the 2022 Invictus Games and again amidst her 2024 quasi-royal tour to Colombia). That being said, it's safe to say that the piece that started it all—the Juste un Clou bangle—is still the most coveted.

Is the Juste un Clou Bracelet Worth It?

When making any investment, it's always worth considering how a piece appreciates and the longevity of its design. Cartier has continued to craft and sell the bangle since its launch over 50 years ago, with prices for the thinnest iteration starting at £2900 and peaking at £83,000 for a thick style complete with 236 pavé diamonds. Of course, should money be no object, there are some Juste un Clou bangles listed as "price on request". Dare to dream, huh? However, a scroll on resale platforms will alert you to the fact that there are some brilliant secondhand Juste un Clou bangles to be found.

"The Juste un Clou bangle was originally released in the early 1970s, and from the beginning, it was meant to be a minimalist-style piece—it is really just a beautifully bent nail! It quickly became a coveted item amongst jewellery collectors and socialites, as it represents class and status, owing to its hefty price tag," explains Regi Colomina, owner and founder of online shop Golden by Regi, which specialises in rare vintage and antique jewellery.

"I would say that the main focus for us vintage-jewellery lovers (and sellers) is picking out the authentic bracelets from the replicas," explains Colomina. "Such high demand for the Cartier bracelet also comes with high demand for fakes, and sometimes, really good fakes. All in all, the simple and distinct design of this bracelet, combined with the high price tag, makes the perfect recipe for jewellery aficionados to want it."

What Is the Most Popular Cartier Bracelet?

It should come as no surprise that the Cartier Love Bracelet is the most popular, with the Juste un Clou a close second. Other ranges of note include the coffee-bean inspired Grain de Café range, which Elle Fanning helped reintroduce to modern audiences at the 2023 Met Gala, and the animalistic Panthère de Cartier.

Keep scrolling to see the various interpretations of the Juste un Clou bangle. I guarantee you'll be tempted to heed my grandma's advice.

Shop the Juste un Clou Bangle