What year was Cartier founded?

Cartier was founded in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier in Paris, France.

Louis-François Cartier established the business after taking over the workshop of his former master, Adolphe Picard, on Paris’s Rue Montorgueil. The early firm combined watchmaking with jewelry and fashion items, and Cartier moved to more prestigious locations as its reputation grew. In 1853, it relocated to the Place du Palais-Royal, followed by a boutique on the Boulevard des Italiens in 1859.

The company’s worldwide fame came later through Louis-François’s grandson Louis and his brothers Pierre and Jacques. They developed major branches in Paris, London, and New York, turning a Parisian workshop into an international luxury house. Cartier remained family-controlled until 1964 and is now part of the Swiss Richemont group.

A common mix-up is confusing Cartier’s founding year with later milestones: 1899 marks the move to Rue de la Paix, while 1917 is associated with the creation of the Tank watch. The company’s origin, however, is firmly dated to 1847.