
Louis Cartier was a third-generation Cartier jeweler. His grandfather, Louis-François, founded Cartier in 1847 at the age of 27. By 1873, Louis-François sold the business to his son, Alfred Cartier. It was Alfred’s three sons who built the foundation of the Cartier we know today. From an early age, Louis, the eldest, along with his two brothers, Pierre and Jacques, had great ambitions to grow Cartier beyond Paris.
According to The Cartiers by Francesca Cartier Brickell, in 1893, Louis, then 18 years old, called a meeting with Pierre, 15, and Jacques, a mature nine. On the table was a map of the world. Louis divided it into thirds, laying out a plan to divide and conquer. Pierre would take the Americas, Louis would cover Paris and the rest of Europe, and Jacques was given Britain and her territories.