142 Cartier Watches

The Pioneering Timekeepers: A Brief History of The Cartiers

Taking over from master craftsman and watchmaker Adolphe Picard, jeweller Louis-François Cartier set up Cartier in 1847. A French conglomerate headquartered in Paris, Cartier specializes in luxury goods ranging from fine jewellery and watches to perfumes and fashion accessories. Alfred Cartier, Louis-François Cartier’s son, took charge of the company in 1874 and expanded Cartier’s reputation to newer and trendier forms of watchmaking. However, Alfred’s sons Louis, Pierre, and Jacques took the brand to new heights and made Cartier synonymous with luxury and elegance.

Louis ran the Cartier Maison at Rue de la Paix in Paris and was responsible for creating some of the best known Cartier designs, including the flat Santos wristwatch, the mystery clocks, and the glamorous Art Deco designs. Meanwhile, Pierre Cartier laid the foundations of the London and New York Maisons but eventually focused on establishing the American branch. Under his management, Cartier’s clientele expanded to include industrialists, financiers, Broadway stars, and the who’s who of Hollywood. Finally, Jacques was left to helm the London branch and together, the three Cartier brothers placed the brand on the international stage. They went beyond watchmaking to conquer the realm of fine jewellery.

The company witnessed several re-organizations after the demise of the Cartier brothers. Switzerland-based Richemont Group acquired the company in 2012 and Cartier is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of the same.

Epitomizing Innovation and Savoir-Faire: Cartier Watchmaking

The elegance and charm of the Cartier watches are crafted at the Cartier Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Employing about 1200 staff members from diverse nationalities, the manufacturing site at La Chaux-de-Fonds boasts of developing traditional gold and steel watches. The Maison des Métiers d'Art is exclusive for the more exquisite crafts like fine jewellery, fine watchmaking, marquetry, and enamel and is housed right next to the manufacturing centre. 

However, every new Cartier creation is conceived at the Design Studio in Paris. The ingenuity and expertise of skilled engineers, designers, and watchmaking specialists manifest in every Cartier watch, creating a functional and aesthetic masterpiece with fine details and precise proportions. Each Cartier watch movement is carefully developed and tested to ensure the highest level of reliability, performance, and precision. Prominent Cartier movements include the 1904 MC, 1847 MC, 1917 MC, high-efficiency quartz movement, skeleton movement, and the mysterious movement, each with its own set of fortes.

Precision, however, is not tampered with, and cutting-edge technology is employed to ensure the constancy, quality, and performance of every Cartier product.

Elegance Through The Ages: Cartier’s Iconic Watches

While 19th-century fashion demanded pocket watches, clocks, and brooches embellished with precious gems, the 20th-century couture welcomed chic wristwatches. Beginning with the signature Santos wristwatch introduced in 1904 to the graceful Ballon Bleu and elegant Drive of the 21st century, Cartier watches have continued to evolve par excellence. 

A timeline of iconic Cartier watch collections:

• 1904 - Santos
• 1906 - Tonneau
• 1917 - Tank
• 1983 - Panthère 
• 1985 - Pasha 
• 2007 - Ballon Bleu
• 2010 - Calibre
• 2015 - Clé
• 2015 - Drive

From being issued a royal warrant by King Edward VII of Great Britain to the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton sporting the Ballon Bleu watch, Cartier has a long and magnificent history of association with royalty and the elite. The innovation and brilliance of every Cartier watch continue to appeal to generations of customers, making the brand a timeless name in the luxury watch industry.