Cartier is a French luxury brand of watches and jewelry. The company was founded in Paris, France in 1847 when Louis-Francois Cartier took over his master's workshop. He experienced success and growth and was able to open the first Cartier boutique in 1859. His son Alfred Cartier took over the business and saw even more success when he had Cartier jewelry introduced into the royal houses all over Europe. Alfred's three sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacque made the Cartier name world famous. The Cartier family retained ownership of the company until 1964. Today it is a subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group, headquartered in Paris, France. As soon as I win the lottery I am buying a tank watch among some other Cartier pieces I covet. It was created by Louis Cartier who was inspired by WWI tanks when designing it. I love the understated elegance of the watch. Princess Diana owned a rather famous one. Other signature Cartier watch collections include Santos which was one of the first wristwatches when it was commissioned by Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian pilot who wanted to tell time while flying , Pasha de Cartier, one of the earliest water resistant watches, Ballon Bleu beloved by celebrities, and Panthère de Cartier, the most bracelet looking of the watches. I was able to enjoy Cartier's storied history at this popup in the Design District, Cartier Time Unlimited created by Perron-Roettinger, an LA design studio. The three story space was custom built just for this exhibit. Time Unlimited is in town in conjunction with Art Basel from December 7 until 22nd. This is the North American debut of the exhibit. Entrance is free but you have to register for a free ticket at the door with a QR code before entering. Inside the exhibit four themes are explored, Watchmaker of Shapes, Pioneering Spirit, Culture of Design, and Technique Serves Beauty. As you explore the different rooms you can see some of the companies iconic time pieces and short films, one of which was produced in collaboration with brand ambassador, Jake Gyllenhaal. In the Technique Serves Beauty area, there is a tunnel-shaped room covered in images and text which recounts Cartier's history of innovation balanced with craftsmanship. The final room is a fun interactive experience where they take a video of you. As a fan of elegant design, the Cartier aesthetic really speaks to me. This is a wonderful exhibit for anyone else who feels the same way but hurry in soon because time is indeed limited. read more

See all