The Cartiers
Cartier, a much loved and familiar luxury brand began as a family business. Within these pages lie the story behind the sparkle!
I inched my way forward with this one due to time constraints. Right now in Sri Lanka we are living through a severe economic crises (to say the least). It was amazing to read how the Cartiers navigated a “luxury business” through extreme economic conditions and competition – through two world wars which devastated nations, creating poverty and long breadlines. They did this by adapting their design, marketing strategies and *relying on each other* in different parts of the world – in an attempt to thrive and at times to simply survive the shifting of wealth and attitudes.
It’s a true rags to riches story written by the granddaughter of Jean Jacques Cartier. I loved all of their gem and design adventures in Sri Lanka and India and the stories of the Maharajas, Kings, and Princesses.
The story spans four generations of the Cartiers, their private lives and struggles.
As the business expanded overseas, the new generation grew up apart, disconnected to each other without the shared bonds, values and business ethos their fathers had shared and worked towards. This is what drove the business to be sold part by part until it was completely out of the family ownership in 1972.
♥ worth every hour spent each day after breakfast to finish it :))
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