Cartier continues to sell luxury in Russia despite sanctions

Cartier continues to sell luxury goods in Russia despite sanctions imposed following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The flagship store of the brand in Moscow, located on Petrovka Street, closed its doors shortly after the European Union and Switzerland, where parent company Richemont is based, implemented strict sanctions banning the export of luxury items to Russia. Employees were temporarily laid off, transferred abroad, or dismissed. Russian high-net-worth clients can no longer purchase white gold Love bracelets priced at €8,700, Baignoire watches at €9,400, or adorned Panther bracelets costing up to €421,000 with precious stones. Customs data obtained by Mediapart confirms that flows of jewelry from Europe to Russia have effectively ceased. Between 2021 and 2023, imports of goods classified under customs code 7113 (precious metal jewelry) originating from France dropped by 91 percent, from $21 million in 2021 to less than $2 million in 2023. Similarly, imports of jewelry from the United Kingdom fell by 99.6 percent, while those from Switzerland declined by 99.8 percent. Cartier is not an exception. Based on the same customs data, imports of Cartier products into Russia totaled $50.6 million in 2021, compared to just $5,552 in 2023. According to official statements, these were spare parts intended for repairs. Effectively, the flow has been cut off. Richemont, owner of Cartier, claims to be exemplary in this regard. In March 2022, the group even withdrew from the Responsible Jewellery Council, an international organization setting ethical and environmental standards for the jewelry industry, citing that it had not severed all ties with Russia. “It does not align with the values of Richemont to be part of an organization whose members support conflicts and wars,” stated Cyrille Vigneron, CEO of Cartier at the time. Despite these official statements, our investigation reveals that Cartier’s luxury goods continue to be sold in Russia. These items now pass through Kazakhstan, which is part of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), a large common market with Russia where goods move freely without customs checks once inside. Customs declarations obtained by Mediapart reveal the existence of these new commercial routes to Kazakhstan, which developed precisely when flows to Russia were drying up. According to the data analyzed, imports of Richemont Group products via Kazakhstan rose from zero in 2021 to $23 million in 2022, reaching nearly $47 million in 2025—almost matching the value of Cartier imports to Russia before the war ($50.6 million in 2021). When asked about these exports and potential sanction circumvention, Cartier did not respond. Richemont, which was also contacted by Mediapart, stated it had “ceased all exports, sales, and distribution of its products to Russia since March 2022” and “denies any suggestion that the group evades applicable sanctions.” However, it made no mention of its exports to Kazakhstan. Cartier maintains a privileged presence in the largest city in Kazakhstan, Almaty, with a store that reopened in 2025 after being completely renovated. According to our information, its sales have increased almost tenfold.