RIP George Cramer: Goodbye to Mr. Cartier, an Elegant Gentleman and My Best Friend

Credits: Article and images by Martin Green @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/04/10/rip-george-cramer-goodbye-to-mr-cartier-an-elegant-gentleman-and-my-best-friend/

This is one of the most challenging articles I have written. For days, I have been struggling to express my thoughts on paper, drifting aimlessly on a sea where waves of intense sadness blend with those of cherished memories. George was my best friend for over two decades, and thankfully, there are many happy memories. I met him before my writing days on a local forum where I shared my experiences with retailers. George disagreed with my views and sent me an email. We conversed, and he later invited me to his home to meet in person and share our watch collections.

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The Rudis Sylva RS23, featuring an innovative twin-oscillator

George Cramer during filming the Cartier Tank Talks

In a charming house near a canal in The Hague, George welcomed me for the first time. Like all his homes, it was not a stylized home from a magazine, yet every object was carefully chosen, oozing with style and class. In a corner, he had a shallow aquarium with a small group of elephantfish that he created to resemble their natural habitat, representing his love for nature and animals. George cooked broccoli soup, the only thing he knew how to cook he said, which was interesting because he had a refined palette for food. Despite the age difference, George felt like an older brother to me, and what was supposed to be a short visit turned into an entire afternoon, admiring our collections and discussing watches and much more. That was the beginning of a friendship that lasted over two decades.

Author Martin Green (left) and George Cramer

George was always modest, perhaps even a bit quiet, especially in a crowded room. In Dutch, we have a saying, ‘Stille wateren hebben diepe gronden,’ which means calm bodies of water are often the deepest. George hated to boast. Few knew about the extraordinary experiences and accomplishments he had before he became a renowned writer in the watch industry. George was more of a visual artist, and his talent was genuine. He landed an internship at a prestigious ad firm in the United States, allowing him to live in New York for a while. Each time he visited the Big Apple, he would walk by his old apartment, joking that even after decades, they still had the same blinds that he purchased many years ago.

Music industry (and that record cover)

Back in the Netherlands, his career led him to the music industry, where he served as an art director at labels like Philips and Polygram. His career was almost cut short when approved an album cover with a typo that resulted in about 50,000 album covers being thrown away. George had to report to the director, thinking he was being sacked. However, the director stated that now that George had made this mistake, he would most likely never repeat it, so his position was secure.

As a creative mind and a great music lover, George’s first mission in life was in the music industry, and later, watches and Cartier became his second. While responsible for the album covers of renowned classical labels of Philips and Polygram, his own taste in music was more eclectic. He introduced me to new artists and genres, expanding my knowledge of modern Jazz and making sure I knew talents like Gas-Lab, which he often played when I was at his house. I also recall listening to ‘Blackstar’ together just a few days after David Bowie passed away. While I admired these artists from afar, George had been up close and personal with many of them, as his job gave him access to now legendary concerts and private quarters of artists when they had to approve a new album cover.

Cartier Gentleman’s Files by George Cramer

Mr. Cartier and So Much More

George Cramer, also known as Geo Cramer or Mr. G, is widely recognized as “Mr. Cartier.” However, this moniker fails to fully capture the breadth of his interests and passions. While he held a profound appreciation for “La Maison,” his curiosity extended far beyond that realm. This interest developed over time, beginning with the purchase of a Cartier Santos in the early days of his career.

As a designer, he was drawn to the watch’s aesthetic appeal. His interest grew when Cartier introduced the Pasha, which he purchased soon after its release. He regretted buying it on a strap and not acquiring the “Figaro” bracelet, but the thought of this bracelet stayed with him. When he learned that Cartier had discontinued the bracelet, he began calling boutiques worldwide to locate one. He was fortunate to find one at the Cartier boutique in Miami, and he sold his car to purchase a ticket to obtain the Figaro bracelet for his Pasha.

Cartier Gentleman’s Files by George Cramer

Although Cartier would play an ever-increasing role in his life, George was ahead of the curve with many developments in the watch world. He was among the first Paneristi, owning numerous iconic models from the brand, and he attended several events, meeting fellow Panerai enthusiasts.

He also had a fondness for independent watchmakers and often purchased their creations. His passion for indy watchmakers predated most of us. He acquired a Daniel Roth and a Gerald Genta when the founders were still owners. At the Geneva boutique of a newly established brand, he made a special request to Franck Muller himself for a Master Banker without a date window, as the designer in George often disliked them. Muller found the request peculiar but honored it. Urwerk was also special to him, and he showed me the UR-103 with a look of wonder and admiration.

George Cramers Urwerk UR-103

When it came to watches, George enjoyed exploring off the beaten path, including Cartier, which was popular when he bought his first watch. However, during the 1990s and early 2000s, the revival of mechanical watchmaking led watch enthusiasts to view “La Maison” as a jewelry brand, disregarding its role as a pioneer in the industry. George fiercely opposed this view, writing numerous articles and producing two books on Cartier. These books allowed him to combine his expertise as an art director with his love of photography. Here, too, George’s perfectionism was on full display, as the development of these books was slow due to his view that his work was not up to par. The opposite was true, as his attention to detail made these books visually stunning and informative.

As I write this, I am wearing a Pierre Arpels watch by Van Cleef & Arpels, which George gifted to me. He was always generous in this way and believed that the Pierre Arpels was a watch that reflected my taste, as he regarded Van Cleef as “my” brand. To me, this watch embodies George’s love of exquisite timepieces that are slightly off the beaten path. We both admired the DeGrisogono New Retro when it was introduced and the Chaumet Dandy, although we did not purchase either. George was also the first to take Louis Vuitton watches seriously, starting with the Monterey II, designed by Gae Aulenti, with a ceramic case made by IWC.

Beauty and elegance in everyday life One of the things I enjoyed so much about George was that he was always searching for beauty and elegance in everyday life. He put thought into everything, meaning that there wasn’t an ugly item in his house. Coffee was served in vintage Bulgari china, he wrote you notes on rare Cartier correspondence cards with an imposing Louis Vuitton Cargo fountain pen, and it all came together with such a sense of grace and harmony. Like his custom-made and/or vintage Louis Vuitton bags and the Ralph Lauren suits he favored, these weren’t items he bought to impress others but rather to enjoy himself.

As his knowledge and passion, especially Cartier, was finally recognized, he was also asked to speak on events. This was something he rarely engaged in, as it clashed with his modest character and his aim for perfection. One of the last projects we did together where the ‘Tank Talks,’ in which we talked our way through the diverse history of Cartier Tank models for the staff of the boutiques in Amsterdam.

George Cramer signing copies of his book, Cartier Gentleman’s Files for staff at the Cartier boutique in Amsterdam

I was honored that George invited me to come along on this exceptional occasion, although I wish I had treasured the experience even more now I know that it was the last major thing we did together. An over twenty-year friendship is a very precious thing to have, especially when it was such a close one. We have been on so many adventures together, exploring cities like Hong Kong and Paris, having long chats over lunch, and spamming each other’s mailboxes and WhatsApp on a daily basis.

Being so close, we also clashed on occasion, as brothers do. Although painful at times, it also shows how close you have grown with somebody else. The fact of the matter is that I wouldn’t be who I am today, as a person and within this industry, without George. As people pass away, they leave behind the memories of how they have touched our lives. All we can do is treasure them, honor them, and ensure they are not forgotten. In honor of George Cramer (1949 – 2023)

Beauty and Elegance in Everyday Life

One of the things I enjoyed so much about George was his constant search for beauty and elegance in the mundane. He gave thought to everything, ensuring that there wasn’t an unsightly object in his home. Coffee was served in vintage Bulgari china, and he wrote notes on rare Cartier correspondence cards using an impressive Louis Vuitton Cargo fountain pen. All these items came together seamlessly, creating a sense of grace and harmony. George’s custom-made and vintage Louis Vuitton bags and Ralph Lauren suits were not purchased to impress others but to bring him personal enjoyment.

George Cramer loved traveling and visited Cartier boutiques all over the world

As George’s knowledge and passion for Cartier became recognized, he was frequently asked to speak at events. Though this clashed with his modest character and pursuit of perfection, he obliged. One of the last projects we worked on together was “Tank Talks,” during which we discussed the varied history of Cartier Tank models for the staff of Amsterdam’s boutiques. George’s invitation to join him on this exceptional occasion was an honor, and I now wish I had cherished the experience more as it was the last significant project we completed together.

A friendship of over twenty years is a precious thing, particularly when it is as close as ours was. We went on numerous adventures together, exploring cities such as Hong Kong and Paris, enjoying lengthy conversations over lunch and exchanging messages daily via email and WhatsApp. As with any close relationship, we had our disagreements, but they only serve to demonstrate how close we had grown to one another. The fact of the matter is that I would not be the person I am today, personally or professionally, without George.

When people pass away, they leave behind memories of how they touched our lives. We can only cherish those memories, honor them, and ensure they are not forgotten.

In Honor of George Cramer (1949 – 2023)