As I mentioned back in my March 2024 Recap, I received a vintage Cartier Trinity ring from my family as a birthday present. It has since replaced my engagement ring and wedding ring stack, and is the one ring I wear at all times. And since I love this ring so much I thought I would do a quick review of it.
The Trinity ring that I got was a secondhand one from eBay and it’s actually from the les must de Cartier line that was produced from the 1970’s-80’s. It was marketed as their more affordable line compared to their usual products (sort of like a diffusion line I think). When it came to watches, it was a big difference in the materials used (gold vs. gold vermeil), but as far as I can tell for the Trinity rings the only difference is the logo that’s written on the band (Cartier vs. les must de Cartier). The rings themselves are still made of 18k solid gold just like the current ones.
Currently the classic Trinity ring retails for $1960+tax, which is a lot for a fairly simple gold 3-band design. The one I got secondhand was priced at just under $700. This vintage one also came with a small vintage box and I could feel the love and care that the previous owner took with this ring. In the last 5 months, I’ve worn it nonstop and have added more scratches to this ring than all of the 40 years the previous owner had it. And I’m ok with that since it was purchased waaaaay under retail.
I especially love this ring since it has a band of white, yellow, and rose gold so it matches whatever jewelry I’m wearing that day. I also love the feel of it, and have grown so accustomed to wearing it that my ring finger feels empty when I’m not wearing it. I especially love rolling it up and down while it’s on my finger (it’s become a kind of very expensive fidget spinner lol). And it’s very easy to put on and take off—just roll it onto your finger. If it isn’t rolling then you might need to just “reset” it by placing it on a flat surface and realigning the rings.
I will say, if you have a chance, go into a Cartier store to figure out your sizing. I’m usually a size 5 on my ring finger but the Cartier ring size of 50 (which is 5.25 in US sizing) feels more comfortable (so if you’re in between sizes I would probably size up). The size 49 is 4.75 in US sizing. Also in the summer heat, my fingers swell just a bit so the 50 is more comfortable to take off and on. I would err on the side of it being too big rather than too small because it’s unlikely for the Trinity ring to just roll off your finger (as long as the sizing is close), unlike a regular single gold band.
Honestly of all the Cartier pieces I’ve owned thus far (including my Love Bracelet, Cartier watches, and Love necklace), this is hands down my favorite. It’s so easy to wear, looks simple yet chic, matches everything, and is an iconic piece by Cartier (this year is the 100 year anniversary of this ring). So if you’ve been thinking about this ring, I highly recommend looking for it secondhand (after trying it out at the store).