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BALLANTINE GROUP

The Cartiers: The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewelry Empire

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Description

“A dynamic group biography studded with design history and high-society dash . . . [This] elegantly wrought narrative bears the Cartier hallmark.”—The Economist The captivating story of the family behind the Cartier empire and the three brothers who turned their grandfather’s humble Parisian jewelry store into a global luxury icon—as told by a great-granddaughter with exclusive access to long-lost family archives “Ms. Cartier Brickell has done her grandfather proud.”—The Wall Street Journal The Cartiers is the revealing tale of a jewelry dynasty—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 made their family firm internationally famous in the early days of the twentieth century, thanks to their unique and complementary talents: Louis, the visionary designer who created the first men’s wristwatch to help an aviator friend tell the time without taking his hands off the controls of his flying machine; Pierre, the master dealmaker who bought the New York headquarters on Fifth Avenue for a double-stranded natural pearl necklace; and Jacques, the globe-trotting gemstone expert whose travels to India gave Cartier access to the world’s best rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, 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’s history, tracking down those connected with her ancestors and discovering long-lost pieces of the puzzle along the way. Now she reveals never-before-told dramas, romances, intrigues, betrayals, and more. The Cartiers also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the firm’s most iconic jewelry—the notoriously cursed Hope Diamond, the Romanov emeralds, the classic panther pieces—and the long line 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, and Elizabeth Taylor. Published in the two-hundredth anniversary year of the birth of the dynasty’s founder, Louis-François Cartier, this book is a magnificent, definitive, epic social history shown through the deeply personal lens of one legendary family. Read more Read less

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ballantine Books; Illustrated edition (November 26, 2019)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 656 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 052562161X


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 14


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.2 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.38 x 1.65 x 9.53 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #47,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #4 in Antique & Collectible Jewelry (Books) #19 in Historical France Biographies #216 in Rich & Famous Biographies


#4 in Antique & Collectible Jewelry (Books):


#19 in Historical France Biographies:


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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: May 23 – May 25

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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Excellent book, a joy to read. Elegant and well informed
Like the jewerly, this book is elegant, beautiful and very well informed. Not only the story of the family but the events that shaped the history of France during the XIX and XX century. Written with the elegance. And very entertaining. I really liked this book
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2023 by Olga
    • Fascinating world history through the lens of a family
I couldn’t put this one down. This was an amazing story of the wealthy and powerful through revolutions and wars as seen through a family having to adapt and change with the times. The combination of art, fashion, society, luxury and world history are told with personal letters and pictures of a family whose story is every bit as wondrous as the gorgeous treasures that were created under their name. I absolutely loved it! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2023 by J. Heitmeier
    • Cartier: A Relentless Pursuit of Beauty, Timeliness, and High Craftmanship
Francesca Cartier Brickell gives the attentive, patient reader a thorough overview of the foundation, expansion, and loss of the family control of the Cartier empire from 1847 to the 1970s. The Cartier’s corporate tagline “never copy, only create” comes out clearly in the firm’s relentless drive for beauty, timeliness, and high craftmanship. The premium of the Cartier’s creations appeals to their buyer's psyche. The book under review contains a good selection of pictures of these glamorous offerings in color. Furthermore, Ms. Brickell offers useful insights into the motivations of the purchasers and sellers of Cartier’s product offerings over time. In summary, the author succeeds in bringing to life her illustrious ancestors, their achievements, and occasional misdeeds that make them human. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2020 by Serge J. Van Steenkiste
    • A book for everyone interested in history, business and beauty.
This book is really brilliant. It isn’t a picture book like a coffee-table book First of all, if you’re a reader, 600+ pages is not really a long book for what it covers; which is why it took 10 years to write. It’s filled with comprehensive, authenticated information from access that a writer/biographer wouldn’t normally have access It really is a story about the process to create a successful. Hard work and perseverance through bad times such as the first- and second-world war. Diplomatic relationships between owner and consumer. Creating a product that kept its relevancy over 150 years. I loved the inclusion of family thoughts as it gave the book personality. These relationships affect everything in any family business. I think the three brothers did an excellent job in identifying strengths (both staff and themselves), creating teams of experts. To see an earring design out of the curve of a vase or to see a color combination from a historic object without copying is astonishing. Buy this book not just for the allure of the beautiful objects, but because it covers a lot of business principles and clever deal-making which was the key behind their enduring legacy in history. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2019 by D. Scott Tjaden
    • Wow! Perfect combination of a book about jewelry and a true story
I just loved this book..easy to read and wonderful journey into the past. As a Cartier jewelry fan, it was wonderful to learn the back story on many of the pieces, and how they came to be. I originally read it on kindle, but ordered the hard cover for my collection as I still love the feel of a real book. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2022 by Dorothy Durdos
    • Fascinating
An absolutely fascinating read! Thank you so much for writing and publishing this book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2023 by Charl Eddie
    • History of Cartier From A Family Member Well Worth Reading
Excellent chronicle of the unique house of Cartier. From late 1800's to 1970, Cartier was family owned. This family worked hard and their innovations in high end jewelry making are still in use. I have always loved the artistry of their creations and this book does justice to that element, but this book is so much more. The book is honest about the family members, good and bad. The book also gives a window of awareness to the massive wealth of those who did business with Cartier and was an education in itself. This book is sad in a way too because all things come to an end and the only constant is change. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2020 by Linda
    • AN ICONIC READ
Let me just start off by saying I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK! This book is so well written and feels so personal that it doesn't even feel like you're reading a book about a part of history. I'm still in the middle of reading it and like a fictional book where you become attached to certain characters, I have felt that for certain ones in this book. But they're not just characters, they're real people (which in my opinion makes it feel somewhat magical because it is real life). This book makes you feel like you have a front row show to major historical events and figures as well. 10/10 ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2020 by Max Koolade

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