The Cartiers Book Launch at Jaipur Literature Festival 2020

Francesca Cartier Briquel, a direct descendant of the Cartier family, presents her book "The Cartiers: The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewellery Empire" at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2020. The book emerged from a remarkable discovery: while searching for champagne in her grandfather's cellar a decade earlier, Francesca found a trunk containing hundreds of family letters spanning over a century. These letters sparked a decade-long research journey across India, London, Paris, and New York, culminating in her comprehensive account of the Cartier family and their legendary jewelry business.

During the launch event, Francesca reads an evocative passage about the Maharaja of Patiala's 1925 visit to Cartier's Paris headquarters, where he entrusted the firm with an extraordinary collection of loose gemstones to be reset in contemporary styles. The passage illustrates Cartier's reputation for trustworthiness and craftsmanship, detailing how the firm spent three years creating a legendary collection, including the famous Patiala necklace featuring 2,930 diamonds, Burmese rubies, and a 234-carat yellow diamond at its center. The event showcases how Cartier's history intertwines significantly with India and demonstrates Francesca's narrative skill in bringing her family's heritage to life.