Henry VII described the Cartier as “the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers”, which has been designing jewelry and watches since 1847.
Marilyn Monroe says that diamonds are girl’s best friend. So, what about an elegant Cartier watch? I think, a chic Cartier Tank would come to your mind when it comes to Cartier. The model, which first appeared on the scene in 1917, is an object of desire like the brand’s other watches and, of course, jewelry. The French brand, which has been designing objects of desire for almost two centuries, is the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers according to Henry VII.
The story of the legendary brand dates back to the years of Paris, when the winds of the French Revolution had not yet subsided. Jewelry and watchmaker Louis-François Cartier laid the foundations of his brand with the workshop he took over from his master in 1847. In 1853, less than ten years after its establishment, the boutique moved to a more luxurious street in Paris and managed to further expand its business. In these years, it was preferred by Princess Mathilde and Empress Eugénie, which increased the fame of the brand and made its name known outside France. After successful years under Louis-François, his son Alfred took over in 1874.
Alfred’s sons Louis, Pierre and Jacques also took part in the management of the company, which remained in this long-established family until 1964. The brand’s fame, which has reached all corners of the world and has continued for decades, was born with the different vision of each member of the family. One of Alfred’s most successful strategies was to send his sons to different countries of the world to increase the international success and awareness of the brand. Pierre went to New York and opened a boutique in Manhattan. There, he married the daughter of a high-society family and gained a place for himself in American society. Jacques, on the other hand, dealt mostly with the business of the boutique opened in London. The brand, which has become one of the jewelers of the British royal family, was founded by King Henry VII. He was commissioned as the jewelry supplier for Edward’s coronation.
