Cartier Baignoire "Casque d'or" White gold - c. 1990

Plunging back into legend

Description

How can you talk about Cartier watches without thinking of the Baignoire ? With elegance, sensuality, and delicacy, the Cartier Baignoire evokes womanhood and the Cartier identity in one. It also illustrates the Maison’s technical capabilities in creating a movement that fits seamlessly into an oval case.

The round and voluptuous case surely makes the Baignoire the most feminine watch ever designed by Cartier. Many powerful or iconic women made it their signature watch. Yet another design as original as it is beautiful from Cartier! The alternation of slightly different links is evidence of high-quality design and goldsmith work.

What makes this model so rare is its integrated bracelet called "Casque d'Or". Its curves recall those of the case and give movement to the watch. Even more: a case and bracelet not in yellow gold but all 18k white gold. The white gold directly responds to the white of the dial, creating a visual harmony. The blued Cartier hands are thus perfectly highlighted. The Cartier Baignoire has a design that seems uninterrupted between dial, case and bracelet.

Why did Françoise choose it?

Obviously, we wouldn't recommend going for sports with such a precious watch. Apart from that, we can consider this watch to be worn daily! The quartz movement makes it practical and precise, and does not require maintenance. A precious piece that will attract all eyes.

Françoise loves simple Baignoire on leather straps or on more luxurious all-gold bracelets. How can you not fall for this all-white gold version that is so rare? Françoise particularly likes white gold (and even more platinum): she likes the discretion of this material, warmer to the eye than steel, whose preciousness only she knows. She likes wearing a Baignoire all the more because she knows it has been chosen by many women she respects or admires.

History

From Catherine Deneuve to Jeanne Moreau via Romy Schneider, the Cartier Baignoire continues to charm.

Although Louis Cartier had already introduced a design of an elongated watch in the early 1900s, the iconic model we know today was born in 1958 in Cartier’s Parisian workshops. A watch with feminine and sensual lines, an innovative and creative style. A few years later, the Baignoire Allongée appeared in London studios.

While the case formed of gold gadroons has retained its rounded design, it has nevertheless offered a few variations over the years, as has the dial, sometimes embellished with Roman numerals, sometimes with Arabic numerals. An intrinsically elegant watch that goes through the years without losing its aura.