10 Things You Should Know About Cartier

1. SANTOS
Cartier was responsible for creating one of the world’s first wristwatches. In 1904, Louis Cartier designed the Santos watch for his friend, aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, so he could read the time while flying. Talk about innovation!

2. LOVE
In 1969, when Aldo Cipullo imagined the LOVE bracelet, he had no idea he had just created what would become one of the most famous jewelry designs in the world—searched on Google over 600,000 times per month! Its unique locking mechanism, which comes with a mini screwdriver, symbolizes eternal love.

3. PANTHER
The Panther is Cartier’s most iconic motif, first introduced in 1914. Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s creative director in the 1930s, was nicknamed “La Panthère,” and her vision shaped the brand’s feline-inspired designs. She had a particular fondness for panthers, which she saw as symbols of grace, power, and beauty. In 1914, Louis created a wristwatch for his friend Jeanne Toussaint, which featured a panther motif. Over the next few decades, the panther became a recurring motif in Cartier’s jewelry designs. The company used a range of materials, including diamonds, emeralds, and onyx, to create panther-themed pieces. The panther symbolized elegance, grace, and power, and it quickly became a signature of the Cartier brand.

4. MYSTERY
Cartier’s Mystery Clocks are one of the most intriguing creations in the watch world. These clocks, first made in 1913, seem to float without any visible mechanism—hence the name “mystery.” The secret lies in a hidden system of transparent crystal discs, powered by gears in the clock’s base. The hands are attached to these discs, which move imperceptibly, creating the magical effect. Often adorned with gemstones, enamel, and precious metals, each clock is a blend of engineering genius and Cartier’s signature luxury craftsmanship. They remain one of Cartier’s most iconic and coveted creations.

5. TRINITY
Cartier’s Trinity Collection was first introduced in 1924, featuring three interlocking bands of yellow, white, and rose gold, each symbolizing fidelity, friendship, and love. Designed by Louis Cartier, the iconic ring became a timeless piece, celebrated for its elegant simplicity and deep symbolism. In 2024, Cartier marked the 100th anniversary of the Trinity Collection by reinterpreting its classic circular design, introducing square-shaped variations that modernize the iconic piece while maintaining its core identity—proof of Cartier’s continuous innovation in jewelry design.

6. MANSION
The Cartier mansion on Fifth Avenue in New York, which underwent five years of renovation and reopened in 2016, was once traded for a string of pearls. In 1917, Pierre Cartier gave Morton Plant’s wife a necklace in exchange for the iconic building. What a deal!

7. ROYALTY
The “Jeweler of Kings and King of Jewelers.” Cartier’s celebrity client list included an impressive number of royals and aristocrats—so much so that King Edward VII of England dubbed Louis Cartier the “Jeweller of Kings and King of Jewellers.” But Louis Cartier’s list of customers was not limited to British royals and aristocrats. He worked for Napoleon I’s niece and Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugénie. He also sold masterpieces to the royal families of Spain, Greece, Portugal, Siam, Serbia, Egypt, and Albania. Today, Kate Middleton frequently wears the Ballon Bleu.

8. CRASH
The Crash Mystery: The popular Cartier Crash watch comes from a strange inspiration. After a car accident, the owner of a Cartier watch brought it back to the store, hoping to get it repaired. However, Jean-Jacques Cartier saw it and had a flash of genius. He decided to recreate the crooked design. He reached his aim in 1967 and started to sell the watch in limited edition. It quickly became a huge success, and to this day, the Cartier Crash is still known as a symbol of the company and is highly coveted at auctions.

9. PLATINUM
Cartier was the first brand to successfully use platinum in jewelry making. Throughout the 19th century, platinum was an incredibly expensive material and was most commonly used by royalty for cutlery and watch chains. Platinum’s high melting point made it incredibly difficult to work with, so it was an impressive feat when, in 1847, Alfred Cartier began using the brilliant and strong metal in his jewelry. Cartier incorporated it into his Garland Style pieces to amplify the brilliance of diamonds.

10. MUST
The Must de Cartier concept came about in 1973, when two men—Robert Hocq and Alain-Dominique Perrin—put their heads together to think of a creative solution to revive Cartier. Hocq, who came from a lighter business background, had successfully turned the lighter into the must-have Cartier accessory in the late 1960s and into the 1970s. The Must collection was designed to bring a sense of elegance to the masses. For much of Cartier’s history, its timepieces were viewed as a luxury attainable only to the wealthiest. The Must de Cartier watches were based on the Tank Louis Cartier and were made from silver, which was gold-plated—known as vermeil. Coining the phrase “Les Must de Cartier,” Hocq wanted to create a line of products that one simply needed to have. He appointed Perrin as the new CEO of Les Must de Cartier, which became Cartier’s lower-priced spin-off line starting at $500. The first Tank Must, a strikingly simple stainless steel quartz watch, was introduced in 1977. As a throwback to the original design, Cartier released four versions with a lacquer dial: black, burgundy, green, and blue.