One of the most prestigious jewellery manufacturers in the world, Cartier was formed in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier when he took over the workshop of his master, Piccard. It was Louis Francois' three grandsons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques who really established the company as a worldwide business and warranted Edward VII's claim that Cartier was the "jeweller of kings and king of jewellers."
Louis was responsible for the Paris branch, with Jacques operating in London from 1906, and Pierre establishing a New York base in 1909. As their reach grew, so did their reputation amongst the wealthiest and most aristocratic clients globally. For his coronation in 1902, Edward VII ordered 27 tiaras from Cartier and issued a royal warrant in 1904. Similar warrants soon followed from the courts of Spain, Portugal, and Russia. During the early 20th century, some of Cartier's most iconic and desirable collections were produced, notably the Tutti Fruitti collections, designed by Pierre Cartier in 1901 for Queen Alexandra's visit to India. This collection soared in popularity through the 1920s, and is amongst the most valuable jewellery by Cartier sold at auction to date.
In 1964 following Pierre's death, Cartier was sold. Today, the company is owned by Richemont, and Elle Pagels, a granddaughter of Pierre Cartier. The company continues with producing iconic and highly sought-after jewellery and timepieces, including the Love, Trinity and Juste En Clou collections to name a few. Although available on the primary market, these pieces sell exceptionally well under the hammer with style-savvy bidders eager to acquire these pieces.
Our specialist Fine Jewellery auctions are held 4 times a year and include the whole spectrum of jewellery, from modern and designer pieces to antique jewels, coloured gemstone jewellery to fine diamond rings. Our department is headed by Liz Bailey who is FGA and DGA qualified, with many years experience in the industry. We offer a free valuation service as well as a free collection service for items consigned to these auctions.
Contact our qualified specialist Liz Bailey to find out more.
The knowledge and passion of our experienced team enables us to achieve top prices for our vendors. For a free, no-obligation valuation complete the form below or click to find out how to sell in our auctions.
Never miss out - sign up for our Lot Alerts and find the lots you're looking for.