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

Detailed history of Cartier and the family that created it. Informative and interesting read. Well written, with good flow. Detailed

I really enjoyed reading this book about the Cartier business and family. So many beautiful pieces were made in their studios for clients all around the world. Many of those pieces can be seen online in great detail as you read if you so choose as I think back the family patriarch’s motto “always be kind” is one I hope to live for.

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.

Beautiful stories about business, family, craftsmanship, design, and world history in the 19th and 20th centuries.

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.

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.

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

Here’s the deal:This is a fascinating story- an intimate look behind one of the most successful jewelry designers hustling his way through the early days to build a global empire. The behind the scenes look into the aristocratic circles of the time is incredibly interesting (to me especially).Yes, the author is related to Cartier, which actually makes the story extremely personal and that much more engaging. Because of her, we have authentic insight. Reviews that comment on not supporting wealthy authors is very odd and would quite frankly leave far fewer good books to read!