Cartier (brand)

Cartier has more than one signature, which is part of its genius. Louis-François Cartier founded the house in Paris in 1847, and the brothers Louis, Pierre and Jacques Cartier later spread it across three cities, with Louis in Paris, Pierre in New York and Jacques in London. Two codes are worth learning first. Tutti Frutti pieces mix carved rubies, emeralds and sapphires in a style drawn from Indian jewelry, while the Panthère turned a big cat into a house emblem, its bold sculptural look shaped by creative director Jeanne Toussaint. Add a long run of crisp Art Deco designs and you have the house most collectors use as the yardstick for everyone else.