Louis Cartier changed the way humans recognize time

Cartier SA is a French watch and jewellery maker founded in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier at Rue Montorgueil 31 in Paris and succeeded by his son Jaffa Cartier in 1874. The brand is now part of the Swiss Richemont Group (Compagnie française). It is now a subsidiary of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, Switzerland.

The Cartier legend began in 1847 when 29-year-old Louis-Francois Cartier (1819-1904) took over the jewellery store at 29 rue Montgel in Paris from his master Adolphe Picard. In 1846, Louis-Francois registered the Cartier company with a diamond-shaped logo made up of his initials L and C encircled by a heart, signalling the official birth of Cartier.

In 1888, Cartier experimented with a mechanical ladies' watch on a diamond-set gold bracelet; in 1904, Cartier made a gold watch for an old friend, Santos, which was a hit. Since then, Cartier watches have been the pets of high society for ages.

In 1899, Cartier moved to its current location, 13 rue de la Paix in Paris. The family business was then succeeded by the three Cartier brothers, Louis, Pierre, and Jacques. They traveled the world, from India to Russia, from the Persian Gulf to the New World, and the exotic cultures they experienced during their travels deeply influenced the style of Cartier's creations.

In 1902, the Prince of Wales, who was about to be crowned Edward VII, praised Cartier as "the emperor's jeweller and the jeweller's emperor" and in 1904 appointed Cartier as the royal supplier of jewellery to the British Crown.

At that time, Paris, after the turmoil of the throne contest, had regained its former flamboyance, which greatly contributed to the prosperity of the Parisian jewellery industry. Cartier was fortunate to be recommended by Napoleon III's young cousin, Princess Mathilde, and business continued to grow; by 1902, Cartier's stores had spread from Paris to London and New York, with New York gradually becoming the headquarters of the Cartier kingdom. Passed down from father to son in just two generations, Cartier has become the world's "King of Jewellery".

Today, whether it is fine jewellery or contemporary collections such as Le Baiser du Dragon, Cartier's creations convey the brand's values through excellence in craftsmanship, style, and expertise.

The history of Cartier bears witness to a century of modern jewellery that has maintained close ties with royalty and socialites throughout its history and is now a luxury dream for fashionistas around the world. With its exceptional creativity and perfect craftsmanship, Cartier has created many exquisite and incomparable masterpieces for mankind, earning it the reputation of "the emperor's jeweller and the jeweller's emperor".

In 1904, Louis-François Cartier designed the world's first wristwatch, the Cartier Santos, for aeronaut Albatour Santos-Durmen. Now, after 113 years, Cartier watches have formed more than twenty collections.

Sources:

https://www.hautehorlogerie.org/zh/watches-and-culture/partner-brands/brand/s/cartier/

https://www.hautehorlogerie.org/zh/watches-and-culture/partner-brands/history/h/cartier/

https://www.ctime.com/article/cartier/2441.html

http://www.xbiao.com/cartier/20232.html