IMAGE: CARTIER

If you’ve been an avid reader of Bagaholicboy, Cartier’s iconic Juste un Clou would be no stranger to you. Thing is, do you know how the humble nail became one of the French luxury house’s signature pieces of jewellery? Well, read on to find out.

IMAGE: CARTIER

The man who designed Cartier’s LOVE also designed the Juste un Clou, and he was Aldo Cipullo, a jewellery designer who joined the company in 1969. Professing a love for all things bolts, nuts and screws (he even said once the hardware store was his second home), the Juste un Clou was created 3 years later in 1971 and inspired by the humble nail. But in the hands of Aldo Cipullo, the most common of hardware essentials was masterfully turned into something that was (and still is) equal parts desirable and irresistible.

IMAGE: CARTIER

Cool, edgy and sexy, the Juste un Clou became one of the standout icons of the 1970s, all thanks to Cipullo who had pioneered a new trend in fashion for precious jewellery inspired by modern machines and their parts. The beauty of the Juste un Clou ultimately lies in its wearability; you can wear it with almost anything dressed up or down as you pleased.

IMAGE: CARTIER

It is also a piece of jewellery that men can pull off, being a piece that’s chunky and sizeable in all the right places. Great for him, and for her, that’s true versatility, and coupled with the fact that it has transcended trends and time, the Juste un Clou is an icon in its own right, and deservedly so.

Images: Cartier