Established in 1847, Louis-François Cartier assumed control of his former employer’s business. He had the inspired idea of adding jewellery pieces to expand his available collection, so it was more than just timepieces. Alfred, his son, also started working for him.
The Paris Commune and a Turning Point for Cartier
In 1870, there was an uprising in Paris, known as the Paris Commune. This was a Socialist revolution, and the new rulers waged war on the aristocracy. Fearing for their lives, high society looked for a way out. Due to their bank access being restricted, they were not able to access their wealth. They had to turn to whatever assets they could get their hands on, namely their jewellery. Alfred Cartier seized the opportunity which had presented itself and offered the desperate aristocrats who rushed through his door just cents on the dollar for their crown jewels. Cartier had, almost overnight, built one of the finest jewellery collections in the whole of France for a fraction of its actual worth.
The Cartier Brothers and Global Expansion
Nearly thirty years later, in 1874, Alfred, his son, took control of the company. However, it was his three sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques, who would go on to take the Cartier name global and establish the renowned Cartier house known for fine quality, excellent craftsmanship and innovation.
Louis, the eldest was a visionary designer, he created the first men’s wristwatch to help an aviator friend tell the time without removing his hands off the controls of his plane; Pierre, dealmaker extraordinaire who bought the New York headquarters on Fifth Avenue for the price of a double-stranded natural pearl necklace; and Jacques, the globe-trotting gemmologist whose expeditions to India gave Cartier access to the world’s finest rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. These gemstones inspired the renowned Tutti Frutti jewellery.
Cartier's Enduring Legacy in Modern Jewellery
The Cartier name has stood the test of time, renowned for its legacy of elegance and craftsmanship. While the Cartier Love bangle remains one of the most popular and desired pieces in the jewellery world today, other iconic creations such as the Juste un Clou bracelet, the Panthère de Cartier collection, and the timeless Trinity ring continue to captivate collectors and style enthusiasts alike.
Cartier Jewellery at Auction
Lot 94
'Juste un Clou' bangle, by Cartier
Estimate: £1,500 - £2,000
Lot 97
18ct gold diamond 'Love' bangle, by Cartier
Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000
Lot 370
18ct gold panther brooch, by Cartier
Estimate: £1,800 - £2,600
Valuations
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