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The House of
Cartier, a true dynasty of style, elegance and fine craftsmanship, was
founded in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, master jeweler to Europe’s crowned heads.
By the early 20th century, his three grandsons, Louis, Jacques and Pierre, were
successfully managing Cartier boutiques in Paris, London and New York.
The first true Cartier wristwatch, the “Santos,” designed by Louis and named for
Alberto Santos - Dumont, a dashing Brazilian aviator, was introduced in 1904.
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wristwatches followed soon after in 1906. In 1910, Louis created and patented the
“deployant” folding clasp. 1917 saw the introduction of the famous Cartier “Tank”
watch. Long regarded as the single most important and influential watch design of the
20th century, the distinctive timepiece was designed in tribute to the Allied Tank
commanders who helped defend France during World War I. In 1933, Cartier was
commissioned by the Pasha of Marrakech to create a watch he could wear while
swimming. As one of the earliest truly water-resistant designs, the watch featured
an attractive round case of solid gold.
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