Louis-Francois Cartier’s 200th Birthday

200 years ago this year, my great-great-great grandfather was born into a poor working class Parisian household. With a mother who was a washerwoman and a metal worker father, his prospects weren’t exactly great. Instead of the education he longed for, he was sent out to earn his keep. After his father found him work as a jeweller's apprentice, years of long gruelling days followed until, in 1847, the ambitious Louis-Francois - by then 27 years old with 2 children of his own - took over his master's workshop. And with no doubt little idea of how this single transaction would propel his family name from obscurity into the limelight in the coming century, he renamed it "Cartier". Pictured here is Louis-Francois Cartier as an older man (having made a success of his life, LFC was finally able to indulge in his passion for learning). And beside him some early jewels retailed (but not made) by Cartier. For those with keen eyes, you might be able to see the red box is stamped ‘Cartier Gillion’ - 12 years after founding his business Louis-François expanded by buying a far better known jewellery firm called Gillion and for years, even decades, he would market his firm as Cartier Gillion. Only when his eldest grandson, Louis Joseph, joined the business and the store moved to Rue de la Paix did it revert to being known simply as Cartier again. So happy 200th birthday this year to aspiring and inspiring jewellery entrepreneur, Louis-Francois.