In 1902, the Cadillac logo debuted with a classic and simplistic design that encapsulated the essence of luxury and precision. The iconic crest featured a stylized rendering of the coat of arms of Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, the French explorer for whom the brand was named. Placed within a circular border, the logo portrayed a merlette, a mythical bird often associated with nobility, perched atop a shield. The shield itself bore a portrayal of the Cadillac family's ancestral arms. This vintage emblem epitomized the brand's commitment to heritage, elegance, and a distinguished automotive legacy, setting the stage for Cadillac's enduring prominence.

In 1905, the Cadillac logo evolved into an elaborate crest. The iconic crest remained round and bore a distinctive coat of arms associated with the Cadillac brand's namesake, Antoine Laumet de La Mothe. On the shield stands the mythical Merlette, a symbol of nobility and prestige. The shield itself is adorned with the ancestral arms of the Cadillac family, exuding an air of heritage and tradition.

In 1906, the Cadillac logo underwent subtle refinement, maintaining its circular emblem adorned with the aristocratic symbolism associated with Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac. The mythical merlette and shield persisted, representing nobility and heritage. However, this iteration introduced a cleaner and more polished design, emphasizing the brand's commitment to precision and elegance. The iconic crest became a visual hallmark, embodying Cadillac's dedication to automotive excellence with a touch of refined luxury.

In 1908, the Cadillac logo retained the round crest, a design that continued to pay tribute to Antoine Laume de La Motte, Count of Cadillac, and his noble lineage. Notably, additional detailing was introduced during this period, replacing the ornate wreath surround with a simple, rounded, circular border, adding a touch of generosity and sophistication.

For 1915, the Cadillac emblem was redesigned, a change from the round emblem of previous years. The new design featured a distinctive and bold crest, with leaf-like decorations added around the circular pattern, and black swan squares still spread across it, exuding a sense of nobility and heritage.

The logo for this time period went through three changes, the first being designed in the shape of an octagonal seal with the word Cadillac written at the bottom, which was then redesigned into an emblem style encircled by a shield shaped border with the letters removed, and the third change was to remove the border outright, leaving just the shield emblem in the centre.

In 1932, the Cadillac logo was reconstructed again, breaking the original rules by changing the shield-shaped logo itself into a circle with a pair of wings sprouting out of the middle of the circle to signify the new change, and future changes built on this by showing the complex composition in simpler lines, which made the original crown at the top of the logo surprisingly look a little like a chess piece when it was represented by a line.

In 1939, on the new generation of the Cadillac emblem, the wing element that had been used in the previous two generations was removed, leaving the shield element that had been used in the beginning and extended down from the sides to form a sharp triangle, and the crown element, which had been simplified previously, was re-decorated to depict a more aristocratic look with an overall appearance of gold interspersed with red blocks of colour.

Time came in 1942 and more changes were made to the Cadillac logo, the previous triangle was removed and the shield portion was retained, this time extended upwards with two silver rectangles resembling wings and the bottom of the shield was re-added with a reddish outline that complemented the silver colour of the entire logo.

In 1963, the Cadillac logo underwent a subtle change, adding a streamlined, more contemporary look. The emblem became sleeker and more stylised, while a wreath was incorporated into the design, encircling the entire shield.

In the 1980s, Cadillac modified the yellow filler squares of the previous logo in response to evolving design trends and changing consumer preferences, giving it a more metallic-silver look, while retaining the red portion of the logo with the wreath still surrounding it.

In 2000, Cadillac introduced a more refined and minimalist logo. wreath elements became more refined, with a flatter overall pattern and lighter colours than before, in keeping with a modern aesthetic and a bold, clean design aesthetic that emphasised its commitment to innovation and the modern luxury experience.

In 2009, Cadillac introduced a subtle yet significant change to its iconic logo. The emblem, which had evolved over the years, received a more contemporary update. The familiar crest remained at the core of the design, representing the brand's heritage and legacy of luxury. However, the major alteration was in the detailing. The emblem's appearance became cleaner and more streamlined, featuring simplified lines and reduced depth. This modification reflected a commitment to a sleeker, more modern design aesthetic, aligning with Cadillac's ongoing effort to appeal to a new generation of luxury car buyers and maintain its status as a symbol of American innovation and sophistication in the automotive industry.

For 2014, Cadillac's most noticeable change to its logo is the removal of the classic laurel wreath that has encircled the emblem for many years, a modification that gives the logo a cleaner, more streamlined look that is in line with contemporary design aesthetics. The core elements of the logo were retained without destroying the original brand culture, appealing to a younger, more modern audience.