SIHH 2019: Cartier

“Icons Reinvented” are the two key words for this year’s thematic for Cartier. Not only did they have over 76 new models for us to choose from, Cartier has also created one of the most creative and outstanding window display that I have ever seen which certainly needs to be acknowledged.

The collections split into their already existing iconic lines including Santos de Cartier, Panthere de Cartier, Cartier Panthere, Cartier Baignoire, Cartier Prive, and Cartier Libre. These further strengthen the brand’s well-established iconic watches to a brand-new height. 

“Invention are first and foremost the result of persistent work in which there should be no room for discouragement,” said Albert Santos-Dumont. Indeed, the infamous Santos watch has been reinventing itself ever since the first Santos created way back in 1904, and we still can’t get enough of it thanks to the timeless design of the watch.

Besides the two new classic collections from Santos-Dumont and Santos de Cartier, the two new models that you need to look out for will be their latest Santos de Cartier Chronograph as well as Santos de Cartier Skeleton range. By far the one that stands out the most will be their Santos de Cartier Skeleton Noctamblue aka “The Night Owl” which glows in the dark! All models are finished with pink gold, yellow gold, steel or twotone combinations which are also equipped with their modern interchangeable QuickSwitch straps functions except on the Santos-Dumont range.

The Panthere de Cartier has two new interpretations bringing back to fashion with a 70s vibe with their bracelet watch. The two watches come in a mini bracelet version as well as the manchette watch which is the cuff size version. The mini range comes in all finishes from steel, yellow gold, pink gold with diamonds, white gold with diamonds and pink gold with diamonds. The manchette range is the one to watch out for which comes in two cuff sizes, the normal and the extra-large model. The normal manchette finishes in yellow gold, white gold with bezel set diamonds, pink gold with bezel set diamonds, and yellow gold with black lacquer. The ones to die for were the two extra-large models which come in pink gold with black lacquer and the pink gold with dial and bracelet set with brilliant cut diamonds (404 diamonds approx. 2.66 carats)

Panthere has been the timeless icon at Cartier since 1914 and it is no surprise that Cartier further reinvents their iconic Cartier Panthere Collection into the new six styles combining the panthere heads with diamonds. Panthere Crash, La Panthere, Panthere Dentelle, Rotonde de Cartier and the two most outstanding ones have to be the Ronde Louis Cartier de Panthere and the Revelation d’une Panthere.  The Ronde Louis Cartier de Panthere is cased in 18K yellow gold with bezel set with brilliant-cut diamonds, dial with painted panthere motif with eyes painted in Super-Luminova limited to 30-piece. and (my favorite has to be) the Revelation d’une Panthere cased in 18K white gold, bezel and watch bracelet set with 1289 brilliant-cut diamonds approx. 19.39 carats with cascading diamonds inside the dial like a waterfall from the outline of the panthere face falls all the way down to the bottom of the inner dial. This 40-piece limited edition is definitely the one to die for.

The remaining collections such as the Cartier Baignoire, Cartier Prive and Cartier Libre are also worth a mention with these timeless icons being reinterpreted in a brand-new way. The un-mistaken elongated oval shaped Baignoire Allongee extra-large model is the one to for. The redesigned roman numerals and its extravagant bezel as sculpted gold that worked into the studs gives this watch a classic/modern sophistication other than none.

The Cartier Prive Collection otherwise known as the Tonneau (means Barrel) range has been in the collection since 1906. How little it has changed with the iconic curved shape (formed from one block) that follows the contour of the wrist which little has been reworked on the bezel and only the materials and mechanism has been modernized. Calling this classic beauty ‘timeless’ is probably an understatement.  The Tonneau Watch comes in two styles and two sizes. The large size in pink gold and the platinum is numbered limited to 100-piece. The Tonneau Extra-Large Skeleton Dual Time Zone comes in pink gold and platinum both numbered limited to 100-piece each.

Finally, the Cartier Libre Collection showcased this year’s limited-edition high jewelry watch range including the Tank Chinoise Red Watch, Diagonale Watch and the two Baignoire Allongee Celadon watch and the Baignore Allogee Black Watch. All in all, this year has been a fruitful year for Cartier and for the Cartier’s collectors 2019 will be a very busy year for you.