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Cartier SA is a luxury watch maker and jeweler based in Paris, France. The family business was founded in 1847 in Paris by Louis-Françoise Cartier. During the next decades, his son Alfred Cartier and afterwards his nephews Pierre, Jacques and Louis developed Cartier to a best-known worldwide brand.

“Santos” – the 1st wrist watch ever was built by Louis Cartier

The breakthrough of the brand Cartier took place in 1904, when Louis designed a tiny wristwatch for Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian aeronaut and acquaintance of the family. The wrist watch was named “Santos” and made history as Cartiers first man’s wristwatch – and the first wrist watch of all time. Their clients have been very pleased as well with the practical product.

Louis was responsible for lots of the better-known and successful designs of the company. He produced the so called “mystery clocks”, for instance. These timepieces have a transparent dial and their clockworks are hidden. Another splendid creation of Louis was an exotic wrist watch including multicoloured jewels called “Tutti Frutti”.

The Cartier Tank watch has today more than thirty varieties

Already in 1907, Cartier was quickly growing and had subsidiaries in St. Petersburg, London and New York. The company was developing into one of the world’s most successful wrist watch companies. A special highlight in the history of Cartier was a waterproof watch made mainly for the Pasha of Marrakesh in 1932. Fifteen years earlier, Louis developed the “Cartier Tank watch”. This wristwatch is still the most famous clock of the company and has today more than thirty varieties.

At this time, the company began printing reference numbers on the bottom of the watches. The presence of these “four-digit-codes” is proving the watches’ originality. The company kept evolving 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 owners – a group of several investors – started to design different products that should keep the quality of Cartiers watches in the past. The new concept was named “Les Must de Cartier (Cartier – it is a must!)”. Nowadays, Bernard Fornas is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cartier. The headquarter of the company is still placed in Paris, France. Cartier is seen as the no. two vendor of luxurious wristwatches behind Rolex. In addition to that, Cartier is the worldwide no. one seller of luxurious jewels. wrist watches