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Collectors Weekly

Cartier was founded in 1847 when Louis-François Cartier, then an apprentice to Parisian jeweler Adolphe Picard, took over the business when his master passed away. By 1853, young Louis-François had become a favorite of Napoleon III’s cousin Princess Mathilde, who helped Cartier gain entry to Parisian society.

For the next quarter century, Cartier was strictly a jeweler, but in 1874, Louis-François’s son Alfred gained the company’s reins. He in turn brought his sons, Louis, Pierre, and Jacques, into the firm—it was this third generation of Cartiers that would make the Paris jeweler’s name synonymous with luxury wristwatches.

The first Cartier wristwatches were diamond-studded bracelets for ladies, which were introduced in 1888 and languished until Parisian fashions changed enough in the mid-1890s to ...

But the real wristwatch breakthrough came in 1904, when, according to Cartier lore, a Brazilian aviation pioneer named Alberto Santos-Dumont complained to his friend Louis Cartier of the shortcomings of fumbling with a pocket watch on a short test flight. Cartier made his friend a flat, square wristwatch called, appropriately, the Santos. In the process, Cartier popularized wristwatches in France and throughout the world.

In 1912, Cartier introduced the oval Baignoire and tortoise-shell shaped Tortue models, followed in 1917 by Cartier’s most famous early wristwatch, the Tank, which was reportedly inspired by the design of Renault tanks used during World War I. Rudolph Valentino wore a Tank in the 1921 silent classic The Sheik.

In the early 1920s, Cartier partnered with fellow Frenchmen Jaeger and Breguet to produce movements for its watches. Other illustrious Cartier collaborators included Swiss makers Vacheron Constantin, Patek Phillipe, and Audemars Piguet.

During the 1920s, Cartier started stamping its watches with four-digit reference numbers—today, knowledgeable collectors know to look for and verify these codes before purchasing an antique Cartier wristwatch. That way, they can tell for certain if the 1932 waterproof Pasha (made for the Pasha of Marrakesh) that they are about to purchase is real or a fake.

By 1940, Cartier had introduced a motoring watch, with a curved shape that was designed to be worn on the inside of the wrist—the winder was on the back of the watch, against the wearer’s skin, rather than the side. And then, in 1942, after the death of Louis Cartier, the company began several decades of stagnation.

Countless variations of the Tank appeared (in the Chinoise, horizontal bars at the top and bottom of the dial rest on the Tank’s vertical "treads"), and in 1965 there was even a watch whose body was shaped like a parallelogram. But it was not until the Must de Cartier in 1976 and the reissue of the Santos in 1978 that the firm was able to reestablish itself as a player on the wristwatch scene.

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Top eBay Auctions

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Cartier 18k Solid Yellow Gold American Tank Chronograph Men's Watch On Strap!Cartier Tank AmericaineA227 Vintage 18kt Gold Cartier Pacha Date. 1990 Sn: M 103100 - 38mmCartier Tank Francaise 18k 1830 LnibCartier Roadster Xl Chrono Steel & Rubber Automatic Chronograph Box & Papers $nr Cartier Calibre De Cartier Stainless Steel Roman Dial Automatic Date 3389Cartier Pasha 18k And Stainless Steel WatchCartier Calibre 3389 Elegant Ss Automatic Skeleton Back Men's WatchAuthentic Cartier Tank Americaine 1730 18k Yellow Gold Quartz Men Chronograph Men's Mint Cartier Roadster Xl Automatic In Box With All Docs Cartier Ss Fullsize Pasha Automatic Chronograph W31030h3 $10,000+ Papers/boxes Cartier Santos 100 Anniversary Men's Wristwatch DiamondMens Cartier Pasha WatchMens Cartier Watch Pasha 1032 Ss 18k Gold 38mm Chronograph W/ Sapphire Crowns Ladies Cartier Roadster 2675 Stainless Steel Pink Dial WatchCartier Pasha Seatimer Men's Automatic Rose Gold&ss Cartier Sub Second WristwatchCartier Pasha 35mm Chrono S.st Quartz Men's Watch - NrVintage Cartier Tank 18 Kt Gold Santose Dumont Paris Mechanical Wristwatch NrCartier Roadster 2675 Limited Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon Dial Ladies WatchMidsize Cartier Santos Octagon 2tone 18k Gold/stainless Steel Date Watch QuartzMen's Cartier Santos Automatic 18k Solid Gold & Steel No ReserveCartier Santos Mens WatchCartier La Dona Women's Watch Automatic Stainless Steel Small Size100%-authentic!cartier Roadster Automatic Chronograph Xl Men's WatchCartier 18k Solid Yellow Gold Vendome WatchCartier Panther 18k Mens Watch Cartier Roadster Model #w6206018 Stainless Steel Mens Watch & Travel PouchCartier Tank Francaise 2465 Elegant Ss/18k Gold Men's Watch W/ Box & PapersAuthentic S.steel Cartier Pasha 35mm Automatic Ladies Watch Diamonds BezelVintage Cartier Wrist Watch Stainless Steel Lecoultre 15 Jewel Mad Men Retro McmCartier Santos Mens 18k And Stainless Steel Automatic Model 451683 Burgundy DialGood Condition Cartier Chronoscaph 21 Men's Watch S/s & Black Rubber 39mmCartier W1018355 Tank Solo Large Stainless Steel Watch - Gorgeous Timepiece! Authentic Men's Cartier Must 21 Chronograph W10125u2 Cartier Panthere Gold & Stainless Steel Midsize Watch!Authentic Must De Cartier Tank Leather Original Crocodile Band Authentic Cartier Women's Santos Stainless Steel Swiss Made WatchCartier Baignoire 18k Rose Gold Ladies Dress Watch W/ Fancy Pink DialCartier 18k Gold Vermeil Women's Vintage Watch. Barely Worn!Cartier Santos Automatic Ladies Octagon Rare Model 18k Gold And Steel WristwatchCartier Jumbo Ygp 17j Tank In Pristine Condition Original Box & Papers Nr; MintyCartier Santos 100 XlMust De Cartier Womens WatchVintage Cartier Swiss Made Vermeil Tank Plaque G20m Must De Cartier Vermeil Tank Ladies WatchAuthentic Womens Cartier Santos 1565, Stainless Steel, Swiss Made EleganceMen's Cartier Watch 18k GoldAuthentic Womens Cartier Panthere 1320, Stainless Steel, Swiss Made EleganceLadies Must De Cartier Tank Watch Vermeil 18k Gold Over Sterling Silver, BoxesCartier Pasha 2475 Automatic Elegant 35mm Midsize Watch White DialCartier Authentic Mens Or Ladies Tank Watch Cartier Pasha Chronograph Gold And SteelAuthentic 18k Gold And Stainless Steel Womens Cartier Santos Quartz, C. 2000Authentic Cartier Santos 100 Automatic 2656 Stainless Steel Men Leather Watch NrCartier Tank Ladies WatchVintage Cartier Tank Watch Gold Plated 925 Silver In Great ConditionRoyal Must De Cartier Gold Pleated 20 M Quartz Watch Men's.Rare Lady's Cartier Panthere Stainless Steel Wristwatch, Near Mint Condition, NrRare Mens Cartier Rondo Silver 925 Roman 2tone Dial Round Quartz

Recent News: Cartier Watches

Source: Google News

What kind of swag does Justice Roberts get?
ABA Journal, May 23rd

Comparatively, the attorney general's gifts that year included an iPad, a Cartier watch and a Persian rug valued at $5,275. Under the Emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution, federal officers can't accept gifts from foreign states. They do take the...Read more

Chief Justice, Attorney General Get Cool Swag from Foreign Dignitaries
Wall Street Journal (blog), May 23rd

In 2010, he received an iPad from from an Italian mayor, as well as a Cartier watch and Persian rug (valued at $5,275) from the attorney general of Qatar. The rug is apparently on display in Mr. Holder's office. No, he didn't keep the watch. It was...Read more

Strong Jewelry Sales Help Richemont to Soaring Sales, Profits
IDEX Online, May 22nd

Demand for jewellery was particularly strong; demand for Cartier's watch collections was solid, tempered by lower wholesale orders for steel watches. The significant increase in sales and positive gross margin development generated an operating margin...Read more

Van Cleef, Cartier Generated “Remarkable” Results Last Year
Jewelers Circular Keystone Online, May 21st

“Demand for jewelry was particularly strong; demand for Cartier's watch collections was solid, tempered by lower wholesale orders for steel watches.” See Richemont's latest financial statement. In related news, Marty Wikstrom has resigned from her role...Read more

Our Local Correspondents
New Yorker, May 19th

In profile, Tammaro, who was fifty-four, resembled the Indian on the Buffalo nickel, but he was a fey charmer who adorned his shaved head with a driving cap and his arms with a Cartier watch and a gold Hermès bracelet. The one constant of his...Read more

In the closet with Gok Wan
Express.co.uk, May 19th

But also my dad, who wore a Savile Row suit, a tie with a pin and a beautiful Cartier watch, just to work in his restaurant. Have you ever made a fashion faux pas? Yes, I'm always getting it wrong - from my blond quiff to the most expensive item in my...Read more

2 maids steal boss' Cartier, diamond ring
Inquirer.net, May 2nd

Upon the two women's arrest, the police recovered P4,000 in cash from them although they did not find Ramirez's diamond-studded ring valued at P1 million and a Cartier watch worth P250,000. Ramirez told the police that she was at work on Tuesday night...Read more

John Lloyd Cruz spends P2M in Ariara and gives a Cartier watch to Sarah ...
Examiner.com, April 24th

As of this day, April 25, 2013 (Philippine time) many people say John Lloyd Cruz has exclusively rented the Ariara Island in Palawan, but it seems that until now, he is not willing to give a detailed information regarding the issue even though he...Read more