1037
Cartier
Ref. 2514
Baignoire Allongée
A rare and attractive white gold and diamond-set wristwatch with guilloché dial, guarantee and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
- Offered in excellent condition
- Bezel adorned with diamonds and diamond-set crown
- Guilloché dial with hidden Cartier signature, paired with blued steel sword hands
The Cartier Baignoire is, without doubt, one of the Parisian Maison’s most iconic designs that stays relevant in present times as it was in the last century. Released in 1957, in the period of post-war refinement in luxury goods and new wave of innovative designs, the bathtub-shaped timepiece then known as the Ovale was available in New York and London Cartier boutiques, and since then it has become a spotlight in the watch and fashion world. In the 1960s, the Maison experimented with shapes and forms, further elaborated the design of the bathtub-shaped watch by elongating the profile, introducing the Baignoire Allongée. The success of the “allongée” model paved the way for another emblematic model of Cartier — the Crash in the same decade.
Faithful to its original design, the present white gold variant of the Baignore Allongée from circa 2000s is a modern iteration of the classic model with a touch of glamour and luxury. Adorned with diamonds around the bezel, it matches perfectly with the white guilloché dial, featuring elongated Roman numeral indexes and the signature blued steel Cartier sword hands. Measuring with an exaggerating 47mm by 21mm curved case, it is surprisingly fitting that wraps the wrist of the wearer comfortably. The well-balanced profile, attractive diamond-set case and nicely crafted dial make this Baignoire Allongée an elegant timepiece reflecting the craftmanship and design innovation of the Parisian luxury house.
Cartier
FrenchWith the Constitution of 1848 came a new standard for luxury in France. Founded one year prior by Louis-Francois Cartier, the house of Cartier was one of the first to use platinum in jewelry making. This incredibly expensive material became the stepping-stone for Cartier to experiment in form, mechanisms and attitude. It helped men move from pocket watches to wristwatches, effectively making the watch much more functional and prominent in a man's overall wardrobe.
Cartier did not only touch on functionality. Inspired by a commissioned painting by George Barbier featuring a black panther at the feet of an elegantly bejeweled woman, Cartier began incorporating wild animals in his designs—most notably, Cartier Panthère rings, bangle bracelets and watches. Yet it wasn't until the late 1960s that the house of Cartier debuted their iconic yellow and rose gold LOVE collection, which includes the famous bracelet that only a special screwdriver can open.