Given the celebratory occasion with which Cartier’s elegant Trinity wedding band is associated, the rich symbolism and inspiration behind the original 1924 design are especially well suited to this iteration.

The Trinity wedding band comprises three 18-karat gold bands — a stacked silhouette that draws on the intertwined form of the Trinity ring. The bands are differentiated by their trio of colors: white, pink and yellow gold. While a variation of the wedding ring sees a row of sparkling brilliant-cut diamonds set into the white-gold band, the piece is mostly unadorned and carries the tradition of the collection seamlessly, bearing all the hallmarks and renowned craftsmanship that distinguish the venerable French jewelry house from its competitors.

Legend has it that the design for the original Cartier Trinity ring — which also yielded the bracelet, necklace and more — was inspired by a dream that Jean Cocteau had. The French novelist and filmmaker reportedly asked his friend Louis Cartier (1875–1942), the grandson of the house’s founder, to create a ring based on his having experienced vibrant visions of Saturn’s rings in his sleep.

The Trinity ring’s appeal is in its spare modernity, even as it was designed at the height of the Art Deco movement. The simple design is also steeped in symbolism that isn’t limited to Cocteau’s vivid dream. The concept of the trinity has a long history in various cultures. The Celtic “triquetra,” or “trinity knot,” consists of three interconnected leaves and is often used to depict unity or eternity. The trinity knot also features frequently as an element in Irish jewelry.

Ever the romantic, Louis Cartier intended for the original Trinity ring’s three bands to symbolize close bonds and the phases of courtship: The white represents friendship, the pink for love and yellow for fidelity. The metaphor is inseparable from the Trinity wedding band and wholly specific to its purpose. With its alluring minimalism and delicate form, it is one of Cartier’s most enduring designs — a pristine expression of eternal love.