Cartier (jeweler)

Cartier is a French company known for its jewelry and watches. Cartier is present in sixty countries and has over 200 boutiques. This includes three historical masons in Paris, London, and New York. The company employs around 7,500 people and is headed by president and CEO Cyrille Vigneron. The Company is owned by Richemont since its acquisition in 1973 by Robert Hocq in association with the group. The current artistic director at Cartier is Jacqueline Karachi.

In addition to its jewelry design, manufacturing, and sales, Cartier includes several other organizations. Fondation Cartier is an art museum in Paris started by the company in the 1980s. Cartier Women's Initiative works to support women business owners, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Cartier Philanthropy is an organization that works to support women and children in need by providing a variety of services including education, infrastructure, and access to other resources (food, medicine, and emergency aid).

Cartier was founded in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, in Paris. In 1856, the company had gained recognition and Princess Mathilde made her first purchase from Cartier; the company would go on to be referred to as "King of Jewellers, Jeweller of Kings," due to its popularity among European royalty.

Alfred Cartier, Lois's son, was running the company when it opened its showroom at 13, Rue de la Paix in 1899. Aldred had taken over the company in 1874. In 1902, Cartier's London location was established. When his father died in 1904, Alfred brought his sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques, on to help with the business. Cartier became the official purveyor to King Edward VII of England that same year. It was also at this time that Lois Cartier created the first wrist watch, as a replacement for the pocket watch—though Cartier watches were not officially launched until 1911. In 1909, Pierre Cartier opened the New York Branch.

Cartier's Caged Bird Broach, a symbol of the French Liberation (1944)

In 1933, Jeanne Toussaint took over as artistic director at Cartier. The company continued to gain popularity, gaining recognition with pieces such as the platinum brooch sold in 1949 to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the Taylor-Burton Diamond, bought by Richard Burton and gifted to Elizabeth Taylor in 1969. At this point they had expanded with shops in Paris, London, and New York. Louis and Jacques both died in 1942, and when Pierre passed away in 1964 the branches were split and sold separately .

Robert Hocq bought back all the branches of Cartier in 1972, and since that point the company has remained a single entity. In 2001, they opened their Switzerland location and continued to expand over the last twenty years into an international brand.

In 1984, Alain Dominique Perrin, chairman at Cartier since 1981, founded the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, a contemporary art museum in Paris, forming an association with working artists.