Stack with confidence.
From royal courts to your closet, the Cartier legacy lives on. Their bracelets were built to last and to evolve. Coveting them is natural. Investing in them is smart. Putting them on may not be as intuitive. Whether it screws, snaps, or slides, here’s how you can open and close every Cartier bracelet without destroying its mechanism (or your manicure).
Cartier LOVE
The Cartier LOVE bracelet debuted in 1969 as a symbol of locked-in devotion. Its design mirrored a chastity belt: you couldn’t slip it on yourself—it required someone else to screw it in. That original concept of permanent love, locked in place, set the tone for decades of cultural fascination. It became so iconic that even hospitals had Cartier screwdrivers on hand for emergencies.
Cartier LOVE: Original Closure
The earliest LOVE bracelets are made of two solid halves joined by two functional screws, one on either side of the wrist. Both sides must be fully unscrewed to separate the piece, and removal or fastening requires assistance.
To open: Use the Cartier screwdriver to turn both screws counterclockwise until each detaches completely, then gently pull the two halves apart.
To close: Wrap the halves around the wrist, align the screw holes, and tighten each screw clockwise until flush without overtightening.
Haute Tip: Always use the proper Cartier screwdriver. Knockoff tools or random flatheads will scratch the finish and destroy the screw heads over time. Please note that not all Cartier LOVE bracelets come with the accompanying tool when shopping secondhand. Be sure to check the “Comes With” section when hunting for LOVE bracelets on FASHIONPHILE.
Cartier LOVE: New Closure
From 2012 to 2021, Cartier introduced a screw system where the screws no longer come out of the bracelet. This internal mechanism is more secure but visually similar to the original. You’ll still need a partner (or a lover) to help you put it on or take it off.
To open: Find the two functional screws on either side. Hold one between your fingers and turn it counterclockwise with the Cartier screwdriver until you feel slight resistance. Stop there. Repeat on the other side. Once both screws are loosened, pull the bracelet apart by separating the two halves at the same time. Do not apply pressure to either screw when pulling.
To close: Have a partner help position both sides of the bracelet around your wrist. They should make sure the screws are correctly aligned before tightening. Hold the bracelet from underneath as your partner turns the first screw about three-quarters of the way. Then flip your wrist so that they can fully tighten the second screw. Do not overscrew.
Haute Tip: Stop as soon as you feel the screws resist. Over-tightening can damage the closure.
Cartier LOVE: Enhancement A
In recent years, Cartier introduced subtle updates to the LOVE bracelet’s internal mechanism to improve security and feel. This new construction embedded the screws into the bracelet so that they could no longer be removed, unlike the upgraded system from 2012. You can sometimes see the latest construction when the bracelet is open, but not always.
To open: Loosen both functional screws using the Cartier screwdriver. Stop when you feel a slight resistance. The screws will stay attached to the bracelet. The upper and lower halves must be pulled apart at the same time.
To close: With the bracelet positioned around the wrist, tighten the screws evenly until secure. Remember, do not overscrew. The enhanced version offers a firmer, smoother feel but functions the same as the classic two-screw version.
Cartier LOVE: Enhancement B
Enhancement B continues the internal upgrades Cartier introduced after 2012 and uses the same two-screw closure. The difference is in the feel. This version flaunts a revised internal construction that makes it smoother and more secure. Unlike Enhancement A, the updates in B are fully concealed, even when the bracelet is open.
To open: Turn both screws counterclockwise until loosened. As with other LOVE models, the screws don’t detach. Pull both sides apart simultaneously once loosened.
To close: Align both halves and tighten the screws. This version feels more fluid and refined than earlier models, but the closure model is unchanged.
Cartier LOVE: Full Pave
The Full Pave LOVE bracelet is covered in diamonds and built differently, too. Unlike other LOVE iterations, the Full Pave LOVE bracelet does not use a screwdriver. Instead, it features a couture-style snap closure with a discreet latch and button system. A hinge sits opposite the closure to allow for smooth opening and closing without tools.
To open: Locate the small latch beside the closure. Pull the latch gently, then press the hidden button underneath. The bracelet will snap open cleanly along the hinge.
To close: Gently swing the bracelet shut until the ends click into place. Then press the latch inward to lock it securely.
Haute Tip: Do not force the latch if it’s not closing smoothly. Double-check your alignment and let it snap naturally into place.
Cartier LOVE: Small
The small LOVE bracelet has its own mechanism entirely. It uses a single functional screw and a hinge on the opposite side. This version with the single-screw closure is where wearer error usually occurs. Those used to older Cartier models will expect to screw until the point of tension. However, you will not feel or need to tighten this screw into place—the bracelet locks after one quarter turn clockwise.
To open: Insert the screwdriver into the screw head and turn it once so that the groove in the screw is vertical, perpendicular to the bracelet. When this line is vertical, the screw is unlocked. Gently open the bracelet from the hinged side.
To close: Wrap the bracelet around the wrist and close it at the hinge. Then turn the screw once so that the groove is horizontal, in line with the bracelet. This indicates it is locked. Do not tighten further.
Haute Tip: There’s no added tension when it locks, so you won’t “feel” it tighten. Align it, trust the click, and don’t force the movement.
Cartier LOVE: Medium
The medium version is slightly heavier and uses the single-screw closure as the small one, but with a few mechanical variations depending on the production year. It features a hinge and a single functional screw that uses the same alignment system.
To open: Use the Cartier screwdriver to turn the screw until the groove sits vertically. This releases the lock so you can open the hinged side.
To close: Fold the bracelet shut, then turn the screw until the line is horizontal, matching the direction of the bracelet. That locks it in place.
Haute Tip: The tab design can vary, with some being pointed and others rounded. Know which version you have, because the tension and closure style may feel different.
Cartier LOVE: New Small
The new small LOVE bracelet is a more recent release that combines the delicate size of the small with a sturdier hinge. It also features a single-screw closure, but with a smoother locking tab and a different screw design.
To open: Twist the locking tab a quarter-turn counterclockwise. Then lift from the opposite side to prevent pressure on the tab.
To close: Fold shut, align, and twist the tab clockwise one quarter-turn to lock in place.
Cartier Juste un Clou
The Juste un Clou is just a nail—a very coveted, expensive “nail.” Cartier bent one onto a bracelet shape in the 1970s, turning the mundane into ultra-luxury. Ready to nail slipping it on and off?
Cartier Juste un Clou: Original Closure
The original version uses a push-lock clasp tucked under the nail head. There’s no button or screw—just pressure.
To open: Find the nail head. Slide your thumb on top, and place your finger under the ridged part below. Push down gently and shift the nail head outward. The clasp will be released.
To close: Snap the two ends together until they click. Don’t force it. If it doesn’t click, you’re not lining it up right.
Haute Tip: If it seems stuck, don’t muscle it. Shift your finger placement until the latch gives. No twisting needed.
Cartier Juste un Clou: New Closure
Around 2017, Cartier switched things up. They added a hidden button under the nail head and changed the diamonds on the tip. Now it opens by pressing the button.
Diamond models with the new closure tend to feature extra stones: five diamonds at the tip of the nail (instead of four), plus one more at the nail head. Older versions with the push-lock clasp typically have fewer.
To open: Find the button beneath the nail head, press it, and pull the ends apart. It’ll pop open cleanly.
To close: Line up the ends and press them together until the bracelet snaps in place.
Haute Tip: The button is smaller than it looks. Push gently so you don’t dent the metal or loosen it. The click confirms it’s locked.
Cartier Juste un Clou: No Closure
Cartier introduced a version of the Juste un Clou (usually in the small size) that has no clasp at all. There’s no hinge, screw, or button. It’s a single, continuous cuff with a fixed open gap. The entire bracelet stays on through tension alone. It’s minimal and sleek, but it does not change how you wear it or how it holds up over time.
This version is usually found in the small size and does not come in pave.
To open: You don’t actually open it. You slide it off your wrist through the open gap. The bracelet flexes slightly to let you remove it, but there is no release or latch.
To close: To wear it again, slide it back over your wrist the same way. There’s no mechanism to secure it.
Haute Tip: This version is not made to bend back and forth all the time. If you take it off regularly, the opening will start to widen. Either wear it consistently or handle it with care when removing.
Double Cartier Juste un Clou
Cartier makes a double-wrap version of the Juste un Clou bracelet. It’s the same nail design, but it wraps around your wrist twice. Some are half-pave and others are full gold or diamonds. The mechanism is the same as the newer single version: hidden button clasp only, no screws, no push locks.
To open: Line up your thumb on the nail head where the wrap overlaps. Press the small button under the head while gently pulling the two ends apart. The latch will disengage cleanly.
To close: Wrap it around your wrist twice, align the ends exactly, and press them together until they click into place.
Haute Tip: Because the design wraps twice, misalignment is more likely. Always pause and check alignment before pressing. If it doesn’t click right away, adjust and try again. Don’t force it.
Ecrou de Cartier
Ecrou de Cartier is built to look like industrial hardware. It’s rigid, weighty, and clean. One of the nuts doubles as a hidden clasp. It’s not decorative. It’s the closure, and it works like a tension-release system.
To open: Find the nut that rotates (it’s usually the one closest to the seam). Press it gently, then pull the bracelet apart.
To close: Line the bracelet back up, press the ends together, and make sure the nut clicks or locks back into place.
Haute Tip: This bracelet has no give. If it’s not going on easily, adjust your wrist position. Don’t bend or try to flex the shape. You’ll warp the edges.
Clash de Cartier
Cartier released the Clash de Cartier line in 2019. It’s all about spikes, studs, and mesh. Despite the edgy look, it closes with precision. It used a hidden hinge and internal latch. There’s no hidden button or screw. You just need to know where to pull.
To open: Slide your finger inside the bracelet near the hinge. You’ll feel a slim tab. Pull that tab upward, then gently swing the bracelet open along the hinge.
To close: Bring the ends together and fold the hinge shut. Press until it clicks. If there’s no click, it’s not fully locked. Reset and try again.
Haute Tip: Misaligning this one can bend the hinge or torque the metal. Always close it flat and head-on. Don’t twist or press sideways.
Stack Cartier
Whether you’re fastening a LOVE bracelet with ceremonial reverence or snapping on a Juste un Clou with practiced ease, you now possess the know-how that separates collectors from admirers. Ready to curate your stack? Shop all Cartier bracelets at FASHIONPHILE.
