The first woman to work in Cartier Paris…

One of my favourite stories from the early days of Cartier in 13 Rue de la Paix is the one I unexpectedly discovered about Madame Ricaud, the first woman to work in the building. She was a pearl stringer – and a good one at that – but the boss, Alfred Cartier (my g-g-gfather, in the picture on the right), was of the old-fashioned view that female employees shouldn’t be in the same workplace as the men so decreed she should work in the Cartier office over the road instead. It may have made little practical sense but the reputationally-conscious Alfred insisted and his word was final. At least, that was, until his eldest son Louis (on the left), new to the firm and not known for following the status quo, had another idea...

Questioning the inefficiency of carting near-priceless pearls over the road to be strung and then back again in the form of necklaces, Louis, cleared a little room under the stairs in 13 rue de la Paix (essentially a broom cupboard), and suggested to Madame Ricaud that she might prefer to work there. Knowing his father would not like the idea, he proposed they keep it secret from him. All went to plan until one day when Madame Ricaud grew thirsty and left her little room in search of some water. Alfred, who happened to be in the building at the time, was shocked to hear the rustle of skirts and followed the noise until he came face to face with a terrified Madame Ricaud...

Needless to say, an almighty row between father and son ensued. Alfred may have been the boss but #louiscartier , still smarting from being forced into an unhappy marriage for the good of the business, was not prepared to keep conceding to his father. Especially not when he believed he was right. Sometime later, Madame Ricaud was told that she could stay. Louis had won the battle and #13ruedelapaix had its first female employee !

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