For its extraordinary range of bracelets, watches, rings and other adornments, French luxury house Cartier is undeniably one of the most well known and internationally revered jewelers in the world among clients both existing and aspirational.
Perhaps 1847 was not the ideal time to open a new watchmaking and jewelry business, as the French Revolution was not kind to the aristocracy who could afford such luxuries. Nevertheless, it was the year Louis-François Cartier (1819–1904) — who was born into poverty — founded his eponymous empire, assuming control of the workshop of watchmaker Adolphe Picard, under whom he had previously been employed as an assistant. Of course, in the beginning, it was a relatively modest affair, but by the late 1850s, Cartier had its first royal client, Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon Bonaparte, who commissioned the jeweler to design brooches, earrings and other accessories.
Under the leadership of Louis-François’s son, Alfred, who took over in 1874, business boomed. Royalty around the world wore Cartier pieces, including Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the Maharaja of Patiala and King Edward VII, who had 27 tiaras made by the jewelry house for his coronation in 1902 and issued Cartier a royal warrant in 1904. (Today, the British royal family still dons Cartier pieces; Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, regularly sports a Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch.)
Cartier’s golden years, however, began when Alfred introduced his three sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques, to the business. The brothers expanded Cartier globally: Louis reigned in Paris, Pierre in New York and Jacques in London, ensuring their brand’s consistency at their branches across the world. The trio also brought in such talents as Charles Jacqueau and Jeanne Toussaint.
One of Cartier’s earliest major successes was the Santos de Cartier watch — one of the world's first modern wristwatches for men. (Previously, a large number of people were using only pocket watches.) Louis designed the timepiece in 1904 for his friend, popular Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to be able to check the time more easily while flying.
Cartier’s other famous timepieces include the Tank watch, which was inspired by the linear form of military tanks during World War I, and the so-called mystery clocks. Invented by watchmaker and magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin and later crafted exclusively for Cartier in the house’s workshop by watchmaker Maurice Couët, the mystery clocks were so named because the integration of glass dials on which the clocks’ hands would seemingly float as well as structures that are hidden away within the base give the illusion that they operate without machinery.
On the jewelry side of the business, Cartier’s internationally renowned offerings include the Tutti Frutti collection, which featured colorful carved gemstones inspired by Jacques’s trip to India and grew in popularity during the Art Deco years; the panthère motif, which has been incorporated into everything from brooches to rings; and the Love bracelet, a minimal, modernist locking bangle inspired by medieval chastity belts that transformed fine jewelry.
While the Cartier family sold the business following the death of Pierre in 1964, the brand continues to innovate today, renewing old hits and creating new masterpieces.
Find contemporary and vintage Cartier watches, engagement rings, necklaces and other accessories on 1stDibs.
French Art Deco Sterling Silver with Gemstone Rosetta Compact Case by Cartier
By Cartier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine Cartier compact case in the iconic Art Deco style, circa 1930s. Sterling silver with gold gilt interior that feature a mirror and a compartment for powder. The exterior featur...
Multi-gemstone, Silver
Cartier Cigarette Case fired Enamel Sterling Silver Art Art Deco Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Cartier
Located in Firenze, FI
Cigarette case for handbag in 925/1000 sterling silver with black fired enamel. Opening with spring button. Size cm. 6.3 x 9.7 x 1.5 . Created in Art Deco style for Cartier USA in th...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
CARTIER 1950 Presentation Desk Box In .925 Sterling Silver And Brown Wood In Box
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
A art & crafts desk box designed by Cartier. This is an amazing desk box created by the jewelry house of Cartier, back in the 1950. The box has been made in a rectangular shape,...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Maison Cartier Modernist Luxury Copper Enigma Box, France circa 1950
By Cartier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Cartier designed this stunning luxury copper and brass box. An extraordinary and captivating creation by Cartier, this rare copper and brass box—crafted in France circa 1950—is a mas...
Brass, Copper
CARTIER Paris 1900 Edwardian Nécessaire Case In 18Kt Gold With Green Lacquer
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
A Nécessaire case designed by Cartier. This is a fantastic nécessaire case box created in Paris France during the Edwardian period by the jewelry house of Cartier, back in the 1900....
Gold
$236Sale Price|64% Off
Cartier Decorative Box Display Stand, Metal, Modern Design, France
By Cartier
Located in London, England
Discover the refinement of the Cartier display, ideal for highlighting your jewelry or watches with a touch of elegance. This chic display has an immaculate white base and a red back...
Metal
Stuart Devlin Set of Twelve Silver and Silver-Gilt "Twelve Days of Christmas"
By Cartier, Stuart Devlin
Located in North Miami, FL
Introducing an extraordinary and complete collection of Twelve English silver and silver-gilt "Twelve Days of Christmas" gift boxes, presented...
Sterling Silver
Cartier Gold and Sapphire Card Case
By Cartier
Located in New Orleans, LA
Formed entirely of 18K yellow gold polished to a high shine, this sleek case was created by the one and only Cartier. The exterior features a finel...
Gold
Art Deco Sterling Silver Cigarette Case by Salimbeni for Cartier USA
By Salimbeni, Cartier
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular pocket cigarette case with long rounded sides in 925/1000 sterling silver with red and black fire-enamelled stripes. With button and spring opening. Measurements cm. 10.3...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
$1,412 / item
Cartier Marble Boxes
By Cartier
Located in Munich, DE
Elegant marble boxes made for Cartier with the silver engraved Logo in excellent condition.
Marble
Cartier Table Box, Black and White, Art Deco Style, Sterling Silver, made by Salimbeni
By Cartier, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large rectangular table box with long, rounded sides, crafted from 925/1000 sterling silver, featuring a two-tone fire-enameled design in the Art Deco style. With "lost" hinge, i.e. ...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Cartier Midcentury Modern Sterling Silver Desk Box
By Cartier, Andrew A. Taylor
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury Modern sterling silver desk box. Rectangular with straight sides; cover flat and hinged without overhanging cutout scroll tab. Box interior cedar-lined and partitioned. Fu...
Sterling Silver
Cartier Picture Frame Box
By Cartier
Located in Riverdale, NY
Antique Cartier Picture frame box with velvet lining. Covered in signature red leather grain textile with gold embosssed edge and a silk satin lining embossed "Cartier". This box was...
Wood
Cartier Table Box, Gold Paillons, Salimbeni, Sterling Silver, made by Salimbeni
By Cartier, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal table box in 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamels on guilloché, featuring a black edge adorned with pure gold paillons, in the Art Deco style, early 1900...
Amethyst, Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold
Cartier Table Box, Black and White, Art Deco Style, Sterling Silver, made by Salimbeni
By Cartier, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular table box with rounded corners, made of 925/1000 sterling silver, featuring a fire-enameled Art Deco design. Dimensions: 10.5 x 13.5 x 3.2 cm. Weight: 560 g. This piece ...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Cartier Box: Fired Enamel, Sterling Silver, with a clear amethyst, crafted by Salimbeni
By Cartier, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Round table box made of 925/1000 sterling silver with a fire-enameled Art Deco design. Dimensions: diameter 14.5 cm, height 3 cm. Weight: 648 g. Featuring a clear amethyst weighing ...
Amethyst, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Cartier Art Deco-Style Table Box, Fired Enamel, Sterling Silver, made by Salimbeni
By Cartier, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular table box with rounded corners, made of 925/1000 silver, featuring a fired-enamel Art Deco design. Dimensions: 10.4 x 13.4 x 3.2 cm Weight: 530 g This piece is the result...
Quartz, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Cartier Table Box, Fired Enamel, Sterling Silver, Art Deco design by Salimbeni
By Cartier, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular table box with rounded corners, made of 925/1000 sterling silver, featuring a fire-enameled Art Deco design. Dimensions: 8.5 x 11.4 x 3.2 cm. Weight gr. 382. This piece i...
Sterling Silver
Circa 1800-1820 English Copper & Brass Jewelry Casket Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1800-1820 copper & brass jewelry casket box, English. Raised on ball feet. Once fabric lined. 4.5" w., 3.5" d., 2.5" h. We are a family business that has been a major source f...
Brass, Copper
$430Sale Price|52% Off
H 4.53 in W 3.15 in D 0.79 in
Cigarette case in checkered silver with gold interior
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Checkered silver cigarette case with gold interior. Metal: Silver. Origin: German. Brand: Unknown. Weight: 127.84 grams. Dimensions: 11.5cmx8cm. Content: 935/1000. Addit...
Silver
Art Deco Sterling Silver-Mounted Shagreen Table Box
By Charles Boyton & Sons, Ltd.
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco, sterling silver-mounted shagreen table box, London, 1923, Charles Boynton & Sons, Ltd, makers. Measures: 6 1/4" wide x 3 1/2" deep x 2 1/4" high. Wood lined. Shagreen is be...
Sterling Silver
$475
H 4 in W 7 in D 3.5 in
Schmid Design White Ceramic Peanut Trinket Decorative Box, Keepsake, Jewelry Box
By Fitz and Floyd, Jonathan Adler
Located in Miami, FL
Schmid Design Folio Trademark Mid-Century Modern white glazed ceramic peanut shaped box, Keepsake or Trinket Box. Made out of cast Ceramic molds in America in the 1970s. Makers Mark ...
Ceramic
$356Sale Price|40% Off
H 3.625 in W 2.5 in D 0.2 in
Art Deco Sterling Combination Coin Compact Card Case, American, circa 1920
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Art Deco sterling combination coin compact card or cigarette Case, American, circa 1920 by Webster Co. Rectangular cushion shape with hand chain attached. Opens to reveal half and fu...
Sterling Silver
$995
H 3.25 in W 2.5 in D 0.25 in
Antique Austrian Silver & Enamel Cigarette Case with Floral & Ribbon Decoration
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This silver and enamel cigarette case is hallmarked by an unknown maker and is presumed to have been made in Austria in approximately 1920. The case is composed of .800 silver and ha...
Silver
Antique English Art Deco Sterling Silver Box
By Robert Pringle & Sons
Located in New York, NY
George VI sterling silver box. Made by Robert Pringle & Sons in London in 1939. Rectangular with curved corners. Cover hinged and tabbed; top has engine-turned wave ornament and rect...
Sterling Silver
Vintage Agate Box Circa 1950s
Located in Tampa, FL
A charming vintage agate box dating to the 1950s and of English or French origin. This piece is beautifully crafted, showcasing the natural banding and translucence of agate with ric...
Agate
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 1 in W 4 in D 3.38 in
Vintage Sterling Silver And Wood English Hinged Small Box Desk Accessory
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely small vintage turn of the century sterling silver hinged box has a wood interior with etched design top. There are English hallmarks on the bottom that are clearly visibl...
Sterling Silver
Silver and Enamel Dog Cigarette Case
Located in Newark, England
CONTINENTAL PROBABLY AUSTRIAN From our Cigarette Cases collection, we are delighted to offer this Silver and Enamel Dog Cigarette Case. The Cigarette Case...
Silver, Enamel
Japanese Silver and Enamel Cigarette Case
Located in Newark, England
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING This Japanese silver and enamel cigarette case is decorated with floral enamel work on a hammered ground and dates to th...
Silver, Enamel
$400
H 0.5 in W 2.75 in D 3.5 in
1930's Art Deco Silver Plate and Enamel Burgundy Red Cigarette Case, Unsigned
Located in Red Lion, PA
1930s Art Deco Silver-Plated and Burgundy Red Enamel Cigarette Case This striking 1930s Art Deco cigarette case features a bold and elegant design of diagonal silver-plated bands se...
Silver Plate, Enamel
Sold
H 4.36 in W 2.75 in D 4.8 in
CARTIER 1970 New York Lunch-Box Purse Clutch In 18kt Gold Vermeil On Sterling
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
Lunch-box purse designed by Cartier. This is a stunning hand formed evening purse clutch in the shape of a diminutive lunch box, created by the French jewelry house of Cartier, back...
Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Cigarette Case rounded shaped green fired enamel lines Salimbeni
By Cartier, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular pocket cigarette case in 925/1000 sterling silver with rounded shaped lines, alternately fire enamelled. With spring opening button and lost hinge, i.e. semi-invisible. M...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.6 in W 3.82 in D 2.49 in
Cigarette Case Art Deco style for Cartier USA in 1980s spring button Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Cartier
Located in Firenze, FI
Handbag cigarette case in 925/1000 sterling silver with black fire enamel. Opening with spring button. Size cm. 6.3 x 9.7 x 1.5. Weight gr. 215. Created in Art Deco style for Cartie...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 3.75 in W 2.37 in D 0.4 in
Vintage 20th Century French Silver Plated Card Holder, Must De Cartier, Paris
By Cartier
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A superb 20th Century silver plated card holder by Cartier. This is a very well made and stylish item from the Must De Cartier line. A perfect accessory for any businessman. The card...
Gold Plate, Silver Plate
Cartier Gothic Revival Wood and Sterling Box
By Cartier
Located in Toledo, OH
Unique wooden table box by Cartier with sterling silver hand hammered details and a lovely original patina in the Gothic Revival style. Stamped "Cartier Sterling 64-54 Handmade" on t...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.4 in W 3.15 in D 2.59 in
Antique 20th Century Cartier Art Deco 18K Gold & Silver Compact, Paris c.1930
By Cartier
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 20th Century Cartier Art Deco 18 Carat gold & solid silver-gilt compact, of rectangular form, set with a gold push-button, both sides are engine turned and comes in the origi...
Gold
Cartier American Modern Sterling Silver Box
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
American Modern sterling silver box, ca 1920. Retailed by Cartier in New York. Rectangular with straight sides, crisp corners, and molded rim. Cover flat and hinged with discreetly p...
Sterling Silver
Cartier Large Art Deco Sterling Silver Box
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
Heavy Cartier sterling silver reeded table box from the mid-century modern era. Rectangular with domed and ribbed top; straight sides; ribbed front and ba...
Sterling Silver
Cartier American Mid-Century Modern Sterling Silver Box
By Andrew A. Taylor, Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Mid-Century Modern sterling silver box. Retailed by Cartier in New York. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with curved top and overhanging rim. Box and cover interior ced...
Sterling Silver
Le Must de Cartier Vintage Playing Card Game Box, 1976
By Cartier
Located in Munich, DE
Never in use Cartier playing cards box, one deck plus joker, poker, bridge playing cards in Cartier red 2-doors case. Les Must de Cartier playing...
Leather, Paper
Cartier Brass and Copper Enigma Box, 1959
By Cartier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Cartier Paris crafted this sophisticated copper and brass decorative box in the 1950s. It is a puzzle box that uses Leonardo da Vinci's specular writing technique*. If you look at the box the straight way, the text engraved on the top is incomprehensible. When the lidded box is placed in front of a mirror, the hidden message can be deciphered. This secret message is an invitation to a socialite wedding in New York in 1959! The message reads: "Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Bernstein have the honour of announcing the marriage of their daughter Joan Honey...
Metal, Brass, Copper
Sold
H 0.67 in W 3.15 in D 2.17 in
20th Century Cartier 18K Gold, Enamel, Jade, Coral & Diamond Vanity Case, c.1920
By Cartier
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
20th Century French Cartier Art Deco gold vanity case, of rectangular form with rounded corners, the lid set with a flower shaped thumb-piece, with ja...
Coral, Jade, Gold, Enamel