Never copy-only create made Cartier stand out: Francesca Cartier Brickell

The first and second generation had only one member each but the third generation had three members and that was fundamental to success

Francesca Cartier Brickell, the sixth-generation descendant of Louis-Francois Cartier, recently authored the book The Cartiers: The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewelry Empire. The Oxford graduate spoke to Pavan Lall about the insights on the business of brands and luxury during independent research she undertook while working on her publication. Edited excerpts:
 
The name Cartier is eponymous with luxury and pedigree – were the family’s early beginnings any different?
 
Actually,  the first generation was very much the working class and its leaders didn’t even have the money to go school. Part of any brand building is