Cartier celebrates the newly reimagined collection of the iconic Baignoire watch.
Cartier, over the years, has effortlessly handled its dual identity as a luxury jeweller and watchmaker. The maison has displayed an inimitable ability to tame the infinity of time and channel its eternity into elegantly crafted timepieces expressed by its skilful craftsmen that challenge what has been achieved and push the creative boundaries with a sense of curiosity.
An emblematic highlight of Cartier’s watchmaking style has been showcased through the Baignoire.
In 1958 the watch first appeared, and in 1973 it was named the Baignoire. The timepiece underlines its French-chic aesthetics through its signature details – a domed crystal, a dial with Roman numerals and a smooth gold ribbon.
Since then, the Baignoire watch has remained true to itself, appearing in a number of variations. This iconic watch takes on an infinite number of possible forms, each time resembling only itself.
Now reimagined once again, the timepiece is both miniaturised and amplified. The first celebrates pure elegance with a ‘less is more’ approach. On a miniature case, the bangle encircles the delicate dial in gold. It highlights the purity of line, precision of form and accuracy of proportion in craftsmanship which can be slipped on as an essential piece of jewellery that elegantly contrasts with a black leather strap.
For the second, the watch’s emblematic oval is transformed into a bangle, a circle of solar gold to be slipped onto the wrist. A new look, a new feel: in rose, yellow or white gold, it is even more sensual with its curved case placed as close to the wrist as possible. And because it is part of Cartier’s design culture, it can be combined endlessly with other iconic Cartier creations. Cartier has also introduced French actress, model and musician Lou Doillon as the face of the latest campaign celebrating the iconic Baignoire watch.
Marie-Laure Cérède, Creative Director of Jewellery and Watchmaking at Cartier, said: “As Cartier was a jeweller before being a watchmaker, a Cartier watch blurs the boundaries between these two founding crafts and makes it possible to capture the best of both.”