Cartier Jewelry
Perhaps 1847 was not the ideal time to open a new watchmaking and jewelry business, as the French Revolution was not kind to the aristocracy who could afford such luxuries. Nevertheless, it was the year Louis-François Cartier (1819–1904) — who was born into poverty — founded his eponymous empire, assuming control of the workshop of watchmaker Adolphe Picard, under whom he had previously been employed as an assistant. Of course, in the beginning, it was a relatively modest affair, but by the late 1850s, Cartier had its first royal client, Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon Bonaparte, who commissioned the jeweler to design brooches, earrings and other accessories.
Under the leadership of Louis-François’s son, Alfred, who took over in 1874, business boomed. Royalty around the world wore Cartier pieces, including Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the Maharaja of Patiala and King Edward VII, who had 27 tiaras made by the jewelry house for his coronation in 1902 and issued Cartier a royal warrant in 1904. (Today, the British royal family still dons Cartier pieces; Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, regularly sports a Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch.)
Cartier’s golden years, however, began when Alfred introduced his three sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques, to the business. The brothers expanded Cartier globally: Louis reigned in Paris, Pierre in New York and Jacques in London, ensuring their brand’s consistency at their branches across the world. The trio also brought in such talents as Charles Jacqueau and Jeanne Toussaint.
One of Cartier’s earliest major successes was the Santos de Cartier watch — one of the world's first modern wristwatches for men. (Previously, a large number of people were using only pocket watches.) Louis designed the timepiece in 1904 for his friend, popular Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to be able to check the time more easily while flying.
Cartier’s other famous timepieces include the Tank watch, which was inspired by the linear form of military tanks during World War I, and the so-called mystery clocks. Invented by watchmaker and magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin and later crafted exclusively for Cartier in the house’s workshop by watchmaker Maurice Couët, the mystery clocks were so named because the integration of glass dials on which the clocks’ hands would seemingly float as well as structures that are hidden away within the base give the illusion that they operate without machinery.
On the jewelry side of the business, Cartier’s internationally renowned offerings include the Tutti Frutti collection, which featured colorful carved gemstones inspired by Jacques’s trip to India and grew in popularity during the Art Deco years; the panthère motif, which has been incorporated into everything from brooches to rings; and the Love bracelet, a minimal, modernist locking bangle reportedly inspired by medieval chastity belts.
While the Cartier family sold the business following the death of Pierre in 1964, the brand continues to innovate today, renewing old hits and creating new masterpieces. It’s certainly one of the most well known and internationally revered jewelers in the world among clients both existing and aspirational.
On 1stDibs, find a growing collection of contemporary and vintage Cartier watches, engagement rings, necklaces and other accessories.
1950s Retro Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
1960s Contemporary Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold, Platinum, 18k Gol...
1980s Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Yellow Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Platinum
1990s Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
Early 2000s Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Multi-gemstone, Tourmaline, Aquamarine, Chalcedony, Pla...
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
Emerald, Onyx, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1990s Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1990s Cartier Jewelry
Emerald, Yellow Gold
2010s Cartier Jewelry
Stainless Steel
1930s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, Platinum
Early 2000s Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Sterling Silver
1990s Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1920s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1990s Cartier Jewelry
18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Coral, Enamel
1980s Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
1940s Retro Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Gold
1980s Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Hematite, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1920s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Onyx, Platinum
2010s Cartier Jewelry
18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
White Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Modern Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Emerald, Yellow Gold
2010s Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Cartier Jewelry
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Cartier Jewelry
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Retro Cartier Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
18k Gold
1980s Vintage Cartier Jewelry
18k Gold
1930s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, Platinum
1980s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Amethyst, Coral, Diamond, 18k Gold
1950s Retro Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1930s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1990s Cartier Jewelry
18k Gold
1970s Vintage Cartier Jewelry
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Jewelry
Rose Gold
