Not many watches are truly timeless, but when it comes to Cartier, their designs are as popular today as they were a century ago. Champions of elegant icons, the Parisian Maison took the world by storm with the introduction of the Baignoire in 1957, a model that was made to last beyond the peak of the “Swinging Sixties”. Shaping the history of traditional watchmaking with adventurous forms, the manufacturer steered away from their distinctive angular cases and revived a “bathtub” shaped wristwatch inspired by its unnamed predecessor from 1912. Boasting beautiful proportions, this chic modern heirloom graced the wrists of legendary style symbols such as actresses Catherine Deneuve, Romy Schneider and Jeanne Moreau.

If the shape of the original Baignoire is daring, the out-stretched form of the Baignoire Allongée is downright audacious. Well received among watch collectors, the successful second chapter of the model was born in 1973, sporting a slender oval case that was previously only ever produced by Cartier’s London and New York workshops. Beautifully balanced and statuesque, the elongated iteration notably became the muse behind the exciting and exotic Cartier Crash.

True to its original design, the present white gold example is no ordinary Baignoire Allongée. Featuring a dial with Clous de Paris guilloche, the warm white canvas is completed with coral red dramatic Roman numerals and a pair of sword hands finished in blued steel. Topped with a signature cabochon sapphire crown and a white gold Grain de Riz bracelet, this timepiece is no doubt the rarest of its kind, crafted to make heads turn.

Produced at the turn of the millennium, the present Baignoire Allongée is a well-preserved specimen in excellent overall condition. Sporting a slim profile and a slightly curved case, this is the perfect dress watch for the modern gentry as it wears comfortably on the wrist and is a versatile piece that can be worn on any occasion.