The history of Cartier bags

Cartier bags

Synonymous with creativity and high-end jewellery

"The jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers" is the epithet given to the firm which established itself at the turn of the 20th century as the official designer to the courts of Spain, Portugal, Russia and Belgium, among others.

In 1847, Louis-François Cartier took over his mentor’s jewellery studio on Rue de la Paix in Paris and transformed it into a luxury firm, which was eventually made famous by the founder’s great-grandson, Louis Cartier. The company focused on exports from the outset.

In addition to the creativity of the models developed, Cartier stood out for its bold style (lines and use of jewels).

In 1904, it created the first wristwatch

In 1910, the Panther motif appeared, becoming the Cartier emblem and a flagship model after 1983.

In 1917, the Tank model of watch was launched, to unending acclaim. In 1973, the brand launched its Les Must de Cartier collection. Five years later, the Santos wristwatch with its gold and steel strap was all the rage.

In 1983, the Panthère watch was released.

In a process of permanent creation, the Pasha watch was then released in 1985.

The Tank Française watch came in 1996, soon followed by the Roadster in 2001.

In 2007, the Ballon Bleu watch was a great success.

Cartier is a socially committed company and is a founding member of the CJRP (Council for Responsible Jewelry Practices). It is also a patron of the arts and was the first company to encourage contemporary art, via the Cartier Foundation, set up in Paris in 1984.

Today the company is owned by the Richemont group. With a network of 300 exclusive boutiques and more than 5,500 employees, Cartier is the ultimate expression of the influence of French luxury.

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