The odyssey of the Cartier “Maison” (House) in the field of fashion started in 1847 when Louis-Francois Cartier took ownership of his master's jewellery workshop at 29 Rue Montorgueil in Paris. In 1899 Alfred Cartier, moved the business to 13 Rue de la Paix, the street of grandeur and sumptuousness in Paris creating the new heart for international jewellery. Alfred entrusted his sons Louis, Pierre and Jacques with the management and the sons expanded the brand into New York and London. The story behind the manufacturing of Cartier watches is unique. In the early years of 1900, an aviator friend (Alberto Santos Dumont) of the Cartier jewellery house complained of the difficulty of reading time from a fob watch while flying. Soon a solution came into reality - a prototype of a wristwatch was born and found its place around the wrist of the aviator friend which gave him freedom from the fob watch. Cartier which was proclaimed by the Prince of Wales in 1902 as the 'Jeweller of Kings for King of Jewellers', using metals like platinum (Platinum was given status by this house as an invincible expensive metal), steel, titanium and colourful gold like yellow, white and pink, for its watches. In 1909 Cartier moved in London from 4 New Burlington Street to 175-176 New Bond Street where it is still one of the landmarks of the Cartier Brand worldwide. 1914 saw the launch of the Panther watch, 1916 the Tortue. In the years that followed Cartier continued with breakthrough revolutionary designs and spread the Brand worldwide. Famously in 1969 Elizabeth Taylor for her 40th birthday was presented by Richard Burton a Cartier Diamond totaling 69.42 carats, the first diamond to have sold for over a million dollars. 1977 saw the Tank Vermeil watch from the Les Must de Cartier collection, Yves Saint Laurent described it as his fetish object! 1978 saw the redesign of the original watch designed for Alberto Santos Dumont with its displayed screws both on the watch and on the bracelet this is still one of the most popular designs of the Cartier Watch collection to date. 1985 the launch of the Pasha watch (A tribute to Power) again still a very popular design of the Cartier range today. 1989 the Tank Americaine is born. 1995 on the 10th anniversary of the Pasha the Pasha C was launched. 1996 the unforgettable Tank Francaise a classic statement of luxury watches which sums up the creativity and design of the Cartier Maison for Men and Women this is a legendary design. 1997 the 150th Anniversary of the Cartier Maison was celebrated worldwide with exhibitions in New York, London and Paris. 1998 the Collection Privee is launched. 2001 the Roadster design is born with interchangeable straps and bracelets. 2004 on the 100th anniversary of the Santo Dumont watch Cartier launched both the Santos 100 and the Santos Demoiselle