History of Cartier

"The jeweler of kings, the king of jewelers!" These words of Majesty King Edward VII described Cartier. Cartier is a symbol of superior ingenuity and craftsmanship that make appear the elegant and unique timepiece, rightly deserve to be called masterpieces. In the guise of their watches, which for half a century of existence has always been a recognizable brand, joined the flight of engineering thought and sensibility. The unique look creates a unique aura that surrounds all creatures of Cartier. This is not just a brand – it is a powerful factor in the fashion of jewelry and watch making since 1847, and ending with recent history.

Company's meteoric rise began when the major store has been opened in Paris, at No. 13 on the Rue de la Paix, and three grandsons of the brand’s founder were recognized in the business community. But only one of the three heirs was succeed as a jeweler and watchmaker. It was Louis Cartier.

His clients were royalty and aristocrats, and he did everything to work under their auspices. So, for the coronation of Edward VII, he made 27 crowns. Other legendary masters were taught by this daring innovator who first guesses to combine diamonds and platinum, in particular, Jeanne Toussaint, who wore the nickname Panther and who brought image of this wild predator in the works of Cartier. The legacy of Louis Cartier became the master’s own creed, which is adhered to the present day: lofty thoughts, clear work and the uniqueness of each masterpiece that bears his name.

Cartier is not just a bright page in the history of watch making: in fact, watches Cartier is the history of watch making. Judge for you: perhaps the world's first watch was designed by Cartier in 1904 for the Brazilian Alberto Santos-Dumont, aviator pioneer. According to the legend, he was terribly by pocket watch: it was inconvenient and dangerous to get them each time during the flight, that’s why he ordered a special watch on the wrist. So, among other things, the first watch for pilots was born. Contours of the watch Tank imprint the part of history, repeating the contours of the first tanks, produced at the plant "Renault" in the First World War.

One of the first wristwatches Cartier was born in the early XX century. Thanks to the collaboration of Louis Cartier and Edmond Zhezhe - they worked together to develop mechanisms. In the 20-th, cooperation has been continued, and the company European Watch & Clock Co. appeared, which began to make movements for chronometers and ultra-thin calibers. The same company is behind a number of important inventions, now firmly entered our lives - such as folding clasp on the strap.

Once Pasha of Marrakesh needed a waterproof watch to worn during the swimming and he appealed to Cartier. So lines of watches Pasha appeared, in which creation the master pushed away from single, fairly deep Cartier’s watches from the line Tank. In the 30-th the mass production of watches Pasha has not yet been established, but the design certainly bears the imprint of that time. Unlike earlier models, modern watches Pasha did not have a protective grid which covered the glass, but there is a screw-down crown with a cap and dial - a square inside a circular scale.

At the end of World War II, watches Cartier had a very good reputation. Cartier ‘s clients were
Marlene Dietrich, Clark Gable, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Charlotte Rampling, Andy Warhol and Yves Saint Laurent - all these people, for whom Cartier watches became part of the unique style.
Today in the workshops Cartier are born watches, which elegance and originality can win the heart of anyone. Sparkling stones, shiny parts of the mechanism, brilliant creative findings – this ever-burning light shines brightly today as ever!

Only to the initiated know that the production of any series of exquisite Cartier watches are available also so-called "clock private collection» - Collection Privee Cartier Paris (CPCP).This collection include watches with complications created with the participation of the most eminent geniuses in watch making. Among them, the one-pusher chronograph Tortue and created in 2007 the gorgeous watch Rotonde de Cartier a Grande Complication - highly sophisticated watch of Cartier, which has a tourbillon, perpetual calendar, chronograph and power reserve of one week!

In 2009 Cartier rose to new heights: from now mechanisms for Cartier are produced in own workshops of Cartier, and not in a separate studio of another, even very decent manufacturer. And the first fully own Cartier watch movement for the watch Ballon Bleu de Cartier was awarded the highest mark of quality – Geneva Seal!