The first two decades of the past century were highly prolific under a design point of view. Cartier, for example, introduced a number of pieces which went on to make the history of the brand, the “Baignoire” being one of them. Launched in 1957 and available in the New York and London boutiques, its design was inspired by an early Cartier oval wristwatch and, notoriously, by the shape of a bathtub, hence its name. Soon after its introduction, the brand experimented with the model giving birth to the oversize “allongée” version. So successful was this design that it will be the base for another iconic Cartier timepiece - the crash.

In 1991 Cartier re-issued the model in a 400 pieces limited edition for its Collection Privé series, an out-of-catalogue line of pieces reserved for the most faithful clients of the maison. The present example, offered in extremely well-preserved condition and accompanied by its original Certificate and box, is a specimen from this restricted production.