The king of jewellers': V&A show charts the sparkling rise of Cartier

Hundreds of pieces of jewellery, including a diamond the size of a gobstopper are to take centre stage at the Victoria and Albert Museum's Cartier exhibition.

- Chloe Mac Donnell

The show charts the evolution of the French jeweller across fashion, design and craftsmanship since the turn of the 20th century.

The London museum's existing jewellery collection is one of its most visited galleries and the Cartier story is already proving popular. Tickets for the first six weeks of the show, which starts on Saturday, have sold out.

Helen Molesworth, who co-curated the exhibition, said her team had worked with international museums, the royal collection and private collectors to secure a variety of pieces, some of which have never been displayed before. These include a wafer-thin brooch adorned with dozens of diamonds that was made in 1910 and a black opal tiara previously worn by Mary Alice Cavendish, the late Duchess of Devonshire.