Cartier SA is a luxury wristwatch producer and jeweler based in Paris, France. The family business was launched in 1847 in Paris by Louis-Françoise Cartier. During the next decades, his son Alfred Cartier and afterward his nephews Pierre, Jacques and Louis developed Cartier to a famous worldwide brand.
“Santos” – the 1st wrist watch ever was constructed by Louis Cartier
The breakthrough of the brand Cartier occurred in 1904, when Louis developed a tiny wristwatch for Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian aviator and friend of the family. The wristwatch was named “Santos” and made history as Cartiers first man’s wristwatch – and the first wristwatch of all time. Their guests have been really pleased as well with the practical product.
Louis was responsible for lots of the well-known and favorable designs of the company. He created the so named “mystery clocks”, for instance. These wristwatches have a transparent dial and their clockworks are invisible. Another exquisite innovation of Louis was an funny wristwatch including multicoloured jewels called “Tutti Frutti”.
The Cartier Tank watch has nowadays more than thirty varieties
Already in 1907, Cartier was quickly evolving and had subsidiaries in St. Petersburg, London and New York. The company was developing into one of the world’s most successful wrist watch brands. A great highlight in the history of Cartier was a watertight wrist watch constructed in the main for the Pasha of Marrakesh in 1932. Fifteen years earlier, Louis developed the “Cartier Tank watch”. This timepiece is still the most famous clock of the company and has nowadays more than thirty variations.
At this time, the company began printing reference numbers on the bottom of the wrist watches. The presence of these “four-digit-codes” is proving the watches’ originality. The company kept growing and in 1964, Jean-Jacques, Claude and Marionne (the children of Jacques, Louis and Pierre) sold the entire business.
A new concept – “Les Must de Cartier”
The new possessors – a group of several investors – began to design different products that should keep the quality of Cartiers watches in the past. The recent concept was named “Les Must de Cartier (Cartier – it is a must!)”. Now, Bernard Fornas is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cartier. The headquarter of the company is still located in Paris, France. Cartier is regarded as the no. two seller of luxurious wristwatches behind Rolex. In addition to that, Cartier is the international no. one seller of luxurious jewels. Men watches