The Cartiers: The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewelry Empire
... as much a tribute to a bygone era as a thorough account of modern luxury ... The author tells us that her grandfather was initially reluctant to discuss Cartier’s early history: Ge was ashamed that it was his generation that had failed to keep the company in the family. But he gradually embraced the project, and his accounts are the beating heart of The Cartiers, elevating this from a company story to a human story — one even the unadorned will read with pleasure.
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Involving gifted artists and crafty entrepreneurs, it offers everything bling-loving readers could want. Stories about fabulous diamonds, perfectly matched pearls, glittering tiaras, iconic watches, and other jaw-dropping adornments are intertwined with detailed accounts of family lore and business dealings, descriptions of myriad social events, displays of unimaginable wealth, and copious name-dropping: royals, movie stars, maharajas, mistresses, moguls, and other glitterati. This is not mere society-page reportage, though ... insightful portraits of the Cartier family and intriguing insider looks at evolving high-society social scenes. There are archival photos, genealogy and time lines, chapter notes, and an extensive bibliography. There’s also a massive publisher advertising campaign in the works; expect plenty of well-deserved interest.
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... an incredible monograph ... a very detailed and somewhat intimate story of the Cartiers from both a familial and business point of view ... This is absolutely not one of those glorious coffee table books displaying just the brilliance of Cartier jewelry. This is a book that must be read and in fact, the volume almost reads like a family diary/journal for the four generations of the Cartier family ... Brickell successfully intertwines the family aspect with both the business and creative aspects ... The takeaway is simply the prospective reader has to have more than just an interest in the jewels of Cartier; they must be will willing to relive just how it all began from its founding father to present.
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