1920’s Store / Watches / 1920’s Cartier Watch

1920’s Cartier Watch

Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier when he took over the workshop of his master. In 1874, his son Alfred Cartier took over the administration of the company, but it was Alfred's sons Louis, Pierre and Jacques, who were responsible for establishing the world-wide brand name of Cartier.

In 1904, the Brazilian aviator, Alberto Santos-Dumont complained to his friend Louis Cartier of the unreliability and impracticality of using pocket watches while flying. Cartier rose to the challenge, designing a flat wristwatch with a distinctive square bezel. This watch was not only a hit with Santos-Dumont, but also with Cartier's many clients. Thus, out of this timeless design, the "Santos" was born. This was the first men's wristwatch.

In the early 1920s Cartier formed a joint company with Edward Jaeger to produce watch movements solely for Cartier. Thus was the famed European watch & clock company born, although Cartier continued to use movements from other great makers. Cartier watches can be found with movements from Vacheron Constantin, Audemars-Piguet, Movado and LeCoultre. It was also during this period that Cartier began adding its own reference numbers to the watches it sold, usually by stamping a four-digit code on the underside of a lug. In fact, many collectors refuse to accept a Cartier as original, unless these numbers are present.

Famous Cartier watch models

1. Tank Française watch: In 1917, inspired by the newly introduced war machines on the Western Front, Louis Cartier designed the most famous Cartier watch, the Cartier Tank watch. This line too has survived, with over thirty varieties now being made.

2. Pasha de Cartier watch: Originally designed as a men’s watch to be worn with a protective grid it became instantly popular with women.

3. Roadster watch: A sturdy built watch with interchangeable straps to suit its owners personality.

4. Santos 100 watch: A big strong watch with a block made from gold or steel that has a screw-down bezel and luminous hands. A high quality watch that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Santos de Cartier watch.

Cartier Watch Auctions