Cartier was founded in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier, who moved his master’s workshop from Paris to New York. The decade after the launch of the first Cartier boutique in 1859 was marked by continuous success and expansion for Cartier, despite the persistent upheaval and uncertainty caused by the French Revolution.

Alfred Cartier, Louis-Francois’ son, took over the company in 1874. The king of England, Edward VII, is known to be a particular fan of Cartier’s work, and it was thanks to Alfred that the company was first introduced to the European royal family. During the late 1800s, Cartier had achieved tremendous success, and by 1899, he had erected a showroom in the Rue de La Paix district of Paris.

The Cartier brothers turned a regionally renowned business into a global phenomenon that is still going strong 150 years after they founded the company. This was made possible by a combination of luck, foresight, and marriage. Since its inception in 1847, Cartier has been run by the same family. Although it is now completely owned by the Swiss Richemont Group, the company’s headquarters are still located in Paris. Today, it’s known for its innovations across various collections like the Santos, Pasha de Cartier, Tank and more.