Cartier History
Cartier has produced countless pieces of stunning merchandise over the years, from watches and rings to various decorative accessories. But many are unaware that the company was first established exclusively with watchmaking. There are many other fascinating facts about Cartier’s history that you may not know.
Cartier’s founder, Louis-François Cartier, was born in Paris in 1819. Louis first worked as an apprentice under the master watchmaker Adolphe Picard, in his store on Rue Montorgueil. In 1847, Cartier bought the store from Picard.
Cartier began adding jewelry pieces to the store’s inventory to expand his available collection beyond that of just watches. He acquired the finest jewels he could find and afford, within France and beyond.
One of Cartier’s distinct advantages was Louis’ insistence on perfection. If he didn’t consider a piece to be up to the impeccable Cartier standard, it was never sold or seen! Although most of the established jewelers of that time had strict quality standards, never before had such stringent adherence to flawless craftsmanship been seen. This reputation for superb quality and consistency helped established Cartier’s position amongst the most sought-after luxury brands worldwide.
Although Patek Phillippe is credited with producing the very first men’s wristwatch, it was Cartier who popularized the use of a man’s wristwatch over a pocket watch. The Cartier Santos watch was born when Cartier befriended the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. Santos expressed the difficulty of piloting with a pocket watch. This need resulted in the creation of one of the world’s first modern wristwatches in 1904. Now known as the Santos de Cartier, the watch was also distinguished by the industrial design, exposed screws, and leather mounting.
Over the decades, Cartier produced some of the most stunning pieces the world has ever seen. In addition to the infamous tutti frutti necklaces and bracelets, Cartier has introduced many other wildly popular and iconic pieces. Some notable items include the Cartier Love Collection, the Cartier Ballon Bleu, the Cartier Pasha, the Cartier Roadster, Cartier Santos, and the Cartier Tank watch.
Cartier remained family-owned, until 1964 when the decision was made to sell each branch separately. In 1972, a consortium led by WW2 French Resistance hero, Robert Hocq, bought back all the various branches of Cartier and unified it once again. Although no longer family-owned the company remains a single entity.
Today Cartier maintains a headquarters in Paris and is currently an owned subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group. As of 2021 Cartier operates more than 200 stores in 125 countries!
