A beautiful example of luxury and progress, Cartier.

• Invoice from Cartier to Pierre Vernes.
• May 31, 1938, Paris.
• 21 cm x 27 cm.
• In French.
• Excellent condition of conservation.

We are not going to talk about a great historical figure here, but rather a great historical brand: Cartier. Cartier is a luxury company that designs, manufactures, distributes and sells jewelry, watches, eyewear, perfumes, handbags and wallets. Founded in Paris in 1847, the brand became known for its many famous clients and for being a pioneer in watchmaking.

That's why it's so well-known in Brazil, but there's also a particular reason: it was during a Parisian night in the early 1900s that the Brazilian adventurer Alberto Santos Dumont confided to his friend Louis Cartier that it was extremely dangerous for him to look at his pocket watch when he was at altitude. After this exchange and with the help of master watchmaker Edmond Jaeger, Louis Cartier designed the first wristwatch of the time.

In 1904, Cartier offered his friend Santos Dumont a prototype that would allow him to read the time while keeping his hands on the controls of the machine. It had a square case, visible screws, Roman numerals, etc. The watch was classic, elegant and functional at the same time. As a figure of the Belle Époque in Paris, Alberto Santos Dumont made the new piece that he wore on his wrist an object of desire. In 1911, Louis Cartier decided to market the watch, which he called Santos, and sold eight hundred copies between 1911 and 1973. Cartier still sells the prestigious watch, which can be found on its website.

In fact, I always wondered where this famous watch that belonged to Santos Dumont was… was it lost or is it kept by a collector, museum or heir?

Unfortunately, let’s not dream. The invoice I present to you here is not for the Santos Dumont watch. It is dated 1938 and addressed to Pierre Vernes, owner of a large French bank – called Palatina Bank today – who had ordered a “polished gold cigarette case with sapphire pushers” for 10,500 francs, the equivalent of 2.8 million reais today! I found it very aesthetic with the different coats of arms of the brand, the typography of the logo, the prestigious addresses of the stores – 15, Rue de la Paix, Paris, Fifth Avenue New York, New Bond Street London – and of course the description of this exceptional jewel.