The 5 Most Iconic Cartier Watches To Add To Your Wrist Stack
From the sharp angles of the Panthère de Cartier to the cool curves of its contemporary Baignoire, the legendary French maison has created some of the most covetable fine timepieces in history
Founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, the Cartier maison began as a humble workshop, a far cry from the luxury behemoth it is today. In the late 19th century, the house had garnered a reputation as the ‘jeweller of kings,’ often creating pieces for monarchs and aristocracy, and in 1904 the maison was credited with crafting one of the first ever wrist watches for men—the Santos watch, designed for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont.
Today, the house treads the line between ultra-luxe high jeweller and avant-garde innovator, with Cartier watches worn by trending tastemakers and style icons all over the world.
Its five most covetable timepieces? Read on.
The 5 Most Iconic Cartier Watches To Add To Your Wrist Stack
The Panthère de Cartier
An icon from the 1980’s, the Panthère de Cartier is intended to feel as precious as a piece of jewellery, with its sinuous strap crafted to mimic the fluidity of a panther’s lithe movements. Celebrated for exploring case shapes beyond a classic round dial, its square silhouette is immediately identifiable and holds huge prestige—this is a timepiece regularly spotted on front rows at fashion week and upon A-list celebrities alike. Available in yellow gold, steel and fully diamond-set iterations, the Panthère de Cartier can be as minimalist or maximalist as you choose.
The Ballon Bleu
One of the maison’s newer icons, the Ballon Bleu watch was launched in 2007, and its name is inspired by its balloon-like convex case. The Ballon Bleu distils many of the maison’s key design codes into one gleaming timepiece—its Roman numeral hour markers, sapphire cabochon crown and blue sword shaped hands are all calling cards of a Cartier watch. The watch is interpreted in many metals and finishes, including those adorned heavily in diamonds. Ranging from a 28mm case size up to 42mm, the Ballon Bleu is a gender neutral watch that will suit any wrist.
The Tank
Cartier’s Tank timepiece is perhaps its most famous—worn by the likes of Princess Diana, Michelle Obama, Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor. The inspiration behind its angular silhouette is somewhat less glamorous; the watch was launched in 1917 and was modelled after the bold lines of the tanks used upon battlefields in WWI. Its sleek and slim silhouette set it apart from the sea of round watch dials available at the time, and it has become synonymous with understated elegance. Since its original incarnation, the Tank collection has expanded to include variations such as the Tank Louis Cartier, The Tank Must, and the Tank Américaine, each bringing a slightly alternative take on the timepiece’s pared back aesthetic.
The Baignoire
Originally conceived in 1912, Cartier’s Baignoire is admired for its unique oval case shape, and has been reinterpreted on multiple occasions since, but the maison relaunched the timepiece in 2023 to rapturous applause, launching the Baignoire bangle. Another time-telling jewel, the Baignoire feels as precious as any bracelet, but still bears the maison’s watchmaking hallmarks, complete with tiny sapphire cabochon crown.
The Tank Américaine
The Tank Américaine is perhaps the best-known sub-collection of the Tank timepiece family, riffing on the original design but boasting an elongated case shape that feels effortlessly elegant. Crafted in yellow, white and rose gold, along with steel, the watch is available in different sizes to suit all wrists, and worn by women and men—Rihanna and Tom Holland are just two notable fans of its sleek silhouette.
Imagery courtesy of Instagram / @cartier
