Cartier Baignoire Mini White Gold - c. 2000

Small watch, big story!

Description

How can one evoke Cartier without thinking of the Baignoire ? With elegance, sensuality, and delicacy, the Baignoire embodies both womanhood and the Cartier identity. It also highlights the Maison's technical capabilities in creating a watch-mechanism that fits within an oval case. With this model, the oval case is smaller than the classic Baignoire, making the technical challenge even more astonishing! Another technical peculiarity is the absence of a crown, allowing for an uninterrupted oval shape, like a cloud on the wrist. The time is to be set on the caseback with a punch and a push-button. The white gold enhances the elegance of this smaller version of the Baignoire, transforming this watch into a precious and discreet jewel.

Cartier is reintroducing its famous Baignoire Mini in 2023 : 1960, 2006, 2023, what era are we in?

How to wear it?

This is truly a city watch: leather strap, white gold case, delicate design. Apart from being unsuitable for the beach or the pool, it can accompany you anywhere! The white gold, indistinguishable from steel to untrained eyes, will not attract malicious attention but will delight you with its warm tone.

Why did Françoise choose it?

The Baignoire is undoubtedly an iconic watch from Cartier. It has been worn by numerous women over the years: women with a bold style, women of character, women who are remembered. What made Françoise fall for it is the epitome of elegance and discretion of this watch: white gold, no crown, small size, ardillon buckle. It's a jewelry watch that she loves to forget on her wrist!

And of course, Françoise always prioritizes the condition of the watches and this one is a very good example. The actual strap on the watch must be replaced because it is cut: the change is included in the price and Françoise will be delighted to assist you in choosing your new tailor-made strap.

History

From Catherine Deneuve to Jeanne Moreau, and Romy Schneider in between, the Cartier Baignoire continues to charm.

Although Louis Cartier had already introduced a design for an elongated watch in the early 1900s, the iconic model we know today was born in 1958 in Cartier's Parisian workshops. It featured feminine and sensual lines, an innovative and creative style. A few years later, the elongated Baignoire made its appearance in London studios.

While the case with its ribbed gold design has maintained its rounded shape, it has undergone some variations over the years, as has the dial, sometimes adorned with Roman numerals, sometimes with Arabic numerals, and here in a different size. An inherently elegant watch that transcends the years without losing its aura.