Introducing the Maison’s most noteworthy collections and watches of the year, from the Pasha de Cartier to the Santos Dumont XL.
The year 2020 has been filled with unexpected encounters across the board. No matter who you are or where you are in the world, you’ve definitely “encountered” more than one unprecedented, possibly life-changing event this year – whether for better or worse.
Far from a particular pandemic that may have crossed your mind, Cartier celebrates the best kind of “Unexpected Encounters” with its 2020 novelties – the kind where unlikely shapes and ideas meet to form exceptional timepieces.
Introducing the Maison’s most noteworthy collections and watches of the year, from the Pasha de Cartier to the Santos Dumont XL.
Pasha de Cartier
Rebirthed from its original conception in 1985 as a unisex model, the new Pasha de Cartier retains its key features of a square inside a circle, 4 oversized Arabic numerals and a signature winding crown cover. But the ‘unexpected encounter’ here lies in the striking blue spinel or sapphire adorning the fluted crown cover, which unscrews to reveal a crown also set with a blue spinel or sapphire, as well as a chain which can now be engraved with the owner’s personalised initials.
It comes in 35mm and 41mm models, with steel, gold or leather straps that can be easily exchanged with the new QuickSwitch system or adjusted (for chain links) thanks to the SmartLink system. The sapphire crystal caseback reveals an 1847 MC Calibre in-house movement, which boasts greater resistance to magnetism and water.
Santos Dumont XL
The Santos Dumont watch has charmed many watch enthusiasts and stylish gentlemen alike for the past century. Previously available in small and large sizes, Cartier is (literally) expanding on the classic’s popularity this year with 3 XL models. The extra large models stays true to the refined, timeless look of its counterparts, but with a change of scale coming at 46.6mm x 33.9mm with a thickness of 7.3mm.
Besides the bigger proportions, the XL versions are now equipped with the 430 MC Calibre movement – which is identical to that of Piaget’s groundbreaking Altiplano (aka the world’s thinnest watch). The three models include all steel, a steel case with 18-karat pink-gold bezel and a full 18-karat pink-gold version – all complemented with alligator straps.
Maillon de Cartier
For the women’s category, the Maillon de Cartier makes a glitzy debut as a bracelet watch that’s equal parts edgy and classy. This brand new addition to the Maison’s family is characterized by rectangular chain links, a hexagonal dial and beveled brancards that “incite Cartier’s rhythmic geometry”.
The watch case is relatively small at 16 x 17 mm, and comes with a quartz movement and crown set with a sapphire cabochon. The collection consists of five models including white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, rose gold with diamonds and white gold with diamonds; plus two limited-edition exceptional pieces issued in a numbered series.
Tank Asymétrique
Following the launch of the Crash, Tonneau and Cintree watches, the Maison presents the fourth and latest addition to the Prive collection: the Tank Asymétrique. As its name suggests, the watch is a unique, asymmetrical interpretation of the iconic Cartier Tank watch. It features two horizontal shafts joined by two oblique ones, encasing a dial with numerals off-set at a 30-degree angle to the right.
Replacing the Roman numerals of the original Tank are Arabic numerals, appearing only in even digits separated by indexes. Its unique diamond shaped case requires a specially designed strap to match, which makes the watch a rare timepiece. It is available in pink gold with a grey dial and strap; yellow gold with a champagne dial and brown strap; and platinum with a silver dial, ruby cabochon and grey strap.
The Tank Asymétrique also comes in skeleton versions that showcase a 9623 skeleton movement in the middle of a bare structure flanked by the 12 and the 6. This setup highlights the core of the Prive collection “to apply technology to the surface of design”. The skeleton models come in pink gold with a brown or grey strap; platinum with a blue or black strap; or gem-set platinum with a black or glossy blue strap.
Visit your nearest Cartier boutique to see the collections upclose or discover the pieces on the exclusive Cartier Watchmaking Encounters digital platform here.
Photos: Cartier
