Cartier Watches: history, innovations and best models
Cartier Watches: history, innovations and best models
Cartier was founded in 1847 by Louis Cartier. It was Louis's son, Alfred, who took over the company in 1874. He was responsible for relocating the headquarters in Rue de la Paix in Paris' jewelry district. Under his leadership, the maison opened the first boutique in 1899, at number 3 of Rue de la Paix, which is still operational and is the ultimate destination for enthusiasts and collectors, as it once was for royal families and aristocrats. In 1904, King Edward VII defined Cartier"the king of jewelers, the jeweler of kings."
Two years earlier, the brand began its international expansion by opening a boutique in London in 1902. Pierre Cartier, Alfred's son, supervised the New York's boutique opening in 1909; the latter then relocated to 653 Fifth Avenue, where it is still today. Pierre, after the death of his brothers Jacques and Louis, kept leading the company. The brand is respected among watch connoisseurs for collections as iconic as the jewelry pieces it became famous for. The brand pioneered the wristwatch industry, with timepieces like the Santos, first and foremost, the Tank, and the Pasha too.