Los Cartier

The Cartiers is the revealing story of a jeweler dynasty spanning four generations, from revolutionary France to the 1970s. At its heart are the three Cartier brothers, whose motto was "Never copy, only create," and who brought international fame to their family business in the early 20th century thanks to their unique and complementary talents: Louis, the visionary designer who created the first men's wristwatch to help a pilot friend tell the time without letting go of his plane's controls; Pierre, the master negotiator who bought the New York headquarters on Fifth Avenue in exchange for a double-strand natural pearl necklace; and Jacques, the world-traveling gem expert whose trips to India gave Cartier access to the finest rubies, emeralds, and sapphires in the world, inspiring the celebrated Tutti Frutti jewelry. Francesca Cartier Brickell, whose great-grandfather was the youngest of the brothers, has traveled the world researching her family history, tracing every connection to her ancestors, and uncovering along the way missing pieces of the enormous puzzle that is the Cartier name. Now, in this book, she reveals not only untold luxury and glamour, but also romances, intrigues, betrayals, and dramas. The Cartiers also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the firm's most iconic jewels: the ill-fated Hope Diamond, the Romanov emeralds, the classic panther pieces, and the long list of stars from the worlds of fashion, film, and royalty who wore them, from Indian maharajas and Russian grand duchesses to Wallis Simpson, Coco Chanel, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marilyn Monroe.