Cartier Bracelets
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 /buy/panthere-cartier/ target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">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 beloved jewelers in the world among clients both existing and aspirational.
On 1stDibs, find a growing collection of contemporary and vintage Cartier watches, rings, necklaces and other accessories.
1920s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Platinum
1980s Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Cartier Bracelets
18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Onyx, Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Modern Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
18k Gold, White Gold
Early 2000s Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern Cartier Bracelets
White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Retro Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Crystal, Lapis Lazuli, Rock Crystal, Gold
Early 2000s Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Artist Cartier Bracelets
Gold
2010s Modern Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Rose Gold
2010s Modern Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, White Gold
Late 20th Century Cartier Bracelets
18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Retro Cartier Bracelets
14k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Cartier Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century Art Deco Cartier Bracelets
White Diamond, Brown Diamond, Platinum
2010s Modern Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Cartier Bracelets
White Gold
1990s Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1960s Modern Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Modern Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Yellow Gold
20th Century Cartier Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
1920s Art Deco Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Platinum
2010s Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Rose Gold
1990s Retro Cartier Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Romantic Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century Cartier Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Modern Cartier Bracelets
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Contemporary Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Late 20th Century Cartier Bracelets
18k Gold, White Gold
1970s Modernist Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Retro Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Retro Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Retro Vintage Cartier Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Cartier Bracelets
Coral, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century Modern Cartier Bracelets
21st Century and Contemporary Cartier Bracelets
Diamond, Yellow Gold
