CARTIER Watches

A comprehensive archive of CARTIER Watches. Each model or type is featured with detailed pictures & specifications to tell you virtually everything you need to know about CARTIER wristwatches we've handled since 2005.

About CARTIER

Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier when he took over the workshop of his master[1]. In 1874 his son, Alfred Cartier took over the administration of the company, but it was Alfred's sons Louis, Pierre & Jacques, who were responsible for establishing the world-wide brand name of Cartier.

In 1904, Louis Cartier met the Brazilian aviator, Alberto Santos-Dumont, who complained of the unreliability & impracticality of using pocket watches while flying. Cartier rose to the challenge, designing a flat wristwatch with a distinctive square bezel. This watch was not only a hit with Santos-Dumont, but also with Cartier's many clients. Thus, out of this timeless design, the "Santos" was born. This was the first men's wristwatch (Patek Phillipe made the first wristwatch, but for a woman & as a one-off). Incredibly enough, this watch is still produced today in much the same form.

Louis retained responsibility for the Paris branch, moving to the Rue de la Paix, in 1899. He was responsible for some of the company's most celebrated designs, like:

• the mystery clocks (a type of clock with a transparent dial & so named because their works are hidden),
• fashionable wristwatches
• & exotic orientalist Art Deco designs, including the colorful "Tutti Frutti" jewels.

In 1907, Cartier signed a contract with Edmond Jaeger, who agreed to exclusively supply the movements for Cartier watches. By this time, Cartier had branches in London, New York & St. Petersburg & was quickly becoming one of the most successful watch companies in the world. The introduction of the Baignoire & Tortue models (both of which are still in production today) took place in 1912, followed by the Tank model's debut in 1917. In 1932, the watertight watch made especially for the Pasha of Marrakesh - raised the bar even higher. Needless to say, the innovations, both in terms of design & technology, continued apace.

In 1917, inspired by the newly introduced war machines on the Western Front, Louis Cartier designed the most famous Cartier watch, the Cartier Tank watch. This line too has survived, with over thirty varieties now being made. The watch has been a favourite of such people as:

• Frank Sinatra,
• Princess Diana,
• Angelina Jolie,
• Jackie Kennedy Onassis,
• Elton John,
• Pierce Brosnan,
• Naomi Campbell,
• Uma Thurman,
• Ronnie Corbett & many more.

In the early 1920s Cartier formed a joint company with Edward Jaeger (of the famed Jaeger-LeCoultre company) to produce movements solely for Cartier. Thus was the famed European watch & clock company born, although Cartier continued to use movements from other great makers. Cartier watches can be found with movements from:

• Vacheron Constantin,
• Audemars-Piguet,
• Movado
• & LeCoultre.

It was also during this period that Cartier began adding its own reference numbers to the watches it sold, usually by stamping a four-digit code on the underside of a lug. In fact, many collectors refuse to accept a Cartier as original, unless these numbers are present.

Jacques took charge of the London operation & eventually moved to the current address at New Bond Street.

Pierre Cartier established the New York City branch in 1909, moving in 1917 to the current location of 653 Fifth Avenue, the Neo-Renaissance mansion of Morton Freeman Plant (son of railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant) which Cartier bought from the Plants in exchange for $100 in cash & a double-stranded natural pearl necklace valued at the time at $1 million.

Among the Cartier team was Charles Jacqueau, who joined Louis Cartier in 1909 for his entire life, & Jeanne Toussaint, who was Director of Fine Jewelry from 1933 on.

Ring-Design > Cartier 1969. Ring-Design > Cartier 1969.

After the death of Pierre in 1964, Jean-Jacques Cartier (Jacques's son), Claude Cartier (Louis's son), & Marionne Claudelle (Pierre's daughter) - who respectively headed the Cartier affiliates in London, New York & Paris - sold the businesses.

In 1972 a group of investors led by Joseph Kanoui bought Cartier Paris. President Robert Hocq, the creator of the concept of "Les Must de Cartier" (a staff member is said to have said "Cartier, It's a must!"[1] meaning something one simply must have) in collaboration with Alain Dominique Perrin, General Director, began introducing new products representative of the status & quality of the Cartier of the past. In 1974 & 1976 respectively, Cartier London & Cartier New York were bought back. In 1979 the Cartier interests were combined together, creating "Cartier Monde" uniting & controlling Cartier Paris, London & New York.

Cartier's largest stores are found in:

• New York,
• Milan,
• Beverly Hills,
• Rome,
• Boston,
• San Francisco,
• Tokyo,
• Paris,
• São Paulo,
• Shanghai,
• London
• & Vancouver.

Cartier watches are favoured by many notables & celebrities:

• Natasha Richardson, Naomi Campbell & Uma Thurman are some of the VIPs who wear Cartier's Tank Francaise.
• Jemina Khan, Nicole Kidman, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Sarah, Duchess of York & Julia Roberts are keen Panthere fans.
• Prince Albert of Monaco prefers the Santos model; as do actors Kurt Russell & Liam Neeson.
• Polo playing actress Stephanie Powers always wears Cartier, as does Joely Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave, Meryl Streep & Tom Cruise.
• Fashion designers Donna Karan, Stella McCartney, Carolina Herrera, Sonia Rykiel, Caroline Charles & Anouska Hempel all work wearing Cartier watches.
• Rock & pop stars Kylie Minogue, David Bowie, Mick Jagger & Rod Stewart own & wear Panthere & Tank Francaise models.
• Robin Williams & Tom Selleck wear Pasha models;
• while former 007, Timothy Dalton, sticks to the timeless elegance of Cartier's Santos.

Wikipedia contributors. Cartier SA. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. June 18, 2008, 00:55 UTC. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/.... Accessed June 28, 2008.