Though Louis Cartier, who lived from 1875 to 1942, popularized the wristwatch over the traditional pocket watch, he did not actually make the first wristwatch. Patek Phillipe created the first wristwatch in 1868, before Cartier was even born. But Cartier was passionate about the workings of mechanical watches and wanted very much to have his own line of elegant watches.In 1904, Cartier’s friend Alberto Santos-Dumont requested a watch that could be easily used during flights, and Cartier developed the Santos wristwatch - the first wristwatch made for men.

Over several generations of Cartier family history, Louis Francois, his son Alfred Cartier, and his three grandsons Pierre, Jacque, and Louis Francois (II) helped the watch business to expand, eventually making Cartier into the best-known name worldwide in jewelry and watchmaking. In 1899 the family moved their Parisian store to the Rue de la Paix - an elegant, upscale location. Stores were opened in London, Moscow, and New York in the years following. By 1912, Cartier introduced the Baignoire and Tortue, and 1917 the Tank watch debuted. At this time the company began stamping a four-digit code on the underside of the lug, and to this day, many collectors won’t accept a Cartier watch without these original numbers.

By the mid 20th century Louis Cartier had died, and his brother Pierre became president of Cartier International. Still a phenomenally successful business, today’s Cartier watches use movements from Swiss watchmaking companies like Le Coultre, Movado, and Audemars Piguet. Cartier jewelry continues to be worn by the wealthy, royalty, and others who insist on having the best watches made. If you can’t afford an original Cartier buy youself Cartier Replica. These watches are much cheaper, so if you ain’t got money - replica is always an idea.