Cartier

Known worldwide for their impeccable and revolutionary designs, Cartier has created an empire in the watch and jewelry world that has lasted for over 150 years. From King Edward VII to Angelina Jolie, Cartier has enjoyed a rich and exquisite clientele which continues to grow. A Prince of Wales even went so far as to proclaim Cartier as "Joaillier des Rois, Roi des Joailliers" (Jeweller to Kings, King of Jewellers"). Cartier is one of the few watch manufacturers that has managed to create a line that equally caters in popularity to both men and women with such models as the Tank, Santos, Pasha, and Ballon Bleu. Founded in Paris in 1847, Louis-Francois Cartier was a determined lad on a mission to make his name known amongst fine jewelers across the world. By 1859, Cartier became a supplier to the court, selling Empress Eugenie a silver tea service in 1859. This was a phenomenal opportunity for Cartier, as their name famously swept across Europe. In 1874, Louis-Francois passed the reins on to his son, Alfred Cartier. Alfred’s father did not invest much of the company’s time and efforts into watches, but Alfred knew that there was great opportunity there. But it wasn’t until 1899 when Alfred’s son, Louis Cartier, a lover of mechanical pocket watches, entered the family business that they saw real growth. Louis Cartier met Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont in 1904, and as fate would have it, this meeting would spawn the idea for their first men’s wristwatch. Santos-Dumont complained to Cartier of the unreliability of pocketwatches during flight. Thus, Cartier was inspired to create the “Santos” wristwatch, known for its flat design and distinctive square bezel. Not only did Santos-Dumont go crazy for it, but so did Cartier’s customers. With Cartier’s rise in popularity, they contracted Edmond Jaeger to be their official supplier of fine movements for their wristwatches. In 1912, Cartier introduced the world to the “Baignoire” and “Tortue” models, which are still in production today, truly classic pieces. Following this great success, Louis Cartier was inspired by the war machines on the Western Front to design what may be their most iconic model to this day, the “Tank.” Louis Cartier passed away in 1942, and alas, the family was unable to continue manufacturing new successful designs in his absence. The future began to grow dim for Cartier until 1972 when a group of investors took over the company and installed Alain Perrin as the head of Cartier. Along with Robert Hocq, Perrin created the “Le Must” line that helped breathe new life into Cartier. Perrin even created new versions of the Santos, helping to reestablish Cartier as one of the finest manufacturers of watches and jewelry in the world. Consumers attracted to Cartier watches have always been enamored with the class and elegance that the company instills in their watches. Many have gone unchanged for over a century and we can certainly see why.