Cartier S.A. is a French company internationally renowned for its high quality – and expensive – jewellery and watches. Tiaras and million-dollar items are common to Cartier.
Cartier S.A. is a French company internationally renowned for its high quality – and expensive – jewellery and watches. The company is famous for its association with the Royal Families and aristocracy of numerous countries. Tiaras and million-dollar items are common to Cartier.
The company was formed in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier. His son, Alfred Cartier later ran the company and it was Alfred’s sons Louis, Pierre and Jacques that built the world-wide name of Cartier.
in 1904, after an aviator friend complained that pocket watches were impractical for flying, Louis Cartier created a square, flat wristwatch for him. The Santos sold to many other of Cartier’s clients and it is regarded as the world’s first men’s wristwatch; it is still available today. (Note that Patek Phillipe had already made a women’s wristwatch as a special commission).
By the 1920’s, Cartier watches were using Jaeger movements, but they also used movements from Audmars-Piguet, LeCoultre, Movado and Vacheron Constantin.
The company remained family run until the 1960’s and then an investment group bought Cartier in 1972. The company continued to grow as a horological firm and purchased the controlling interest of Piaget and Baume & Mercier.