The
Cartier Baignoire might only have been introduced in 1957, but it is inspired from the first oval watch created by Louis Cartier in 1912, for an important Russian client, during a period where
Cartier was experimenting with various shapes, in order to create distinctive stylistic looks. On the topic of the original oval watch, Pierre Raneiro, the Image and Heritage Director of
Cartier, stated;
“What makes the Cartier style unique is a certain sense of proportion; there is that sense of well-balanced volume and shape”.
A few years after the introduction of the original
Baignoire,
Cartier designers elongated the oval watch even further, creating the
Baignoire Allongée with added dramatic appeal. It was produced in very limited numbers, in the London and the New York boutiques of the brand. Coincidentally, the
Baignoire Allongée is the purported muse behind the iconic
Cartier Crash, which, despite its distorted appearance, bears resemblance to the
Baignoire.
This
Baignoire Allongée, from the 1990s, remains faithful to the original design. Cased in pink gold, its oversized proportions give it unparalleled wrist presence, measuring 54mm by 23mm. Curved and measuring just 8mm thick, the
Baignoire Allongée serves as an elegant dress watch, fitting perfectly beneath the cuff. It hugs the wrist, in a way that is both supremely comfortable, yet distinctively elegant and characterful. The rose gold variant of the
Baignoire Allongée is even rarer and more elusive than the also seldom seen yellow gold examples.
Beneath the curved crystal, the dial is an ivory-coloured guilloché. It features dramatically elongated Roman numerals, following
Cartier’s typography, while offering a new take on how to elegantly balance an oval-shaped dial. Above this, the sword-hands are blued-steel, adding a nice touch of contrast to the watch. In typical
Cartier style, the watch features a blue sapphire cabochon, set in the beaded crown. It is powered by a manual-winding, 17-jewel
Cartier Caliber 078.
This particular watch comes on a custom-made
Jean Rousseau strap, made of grained tan calfskin, with matching 18-carat
Cartier rose gold deployant buckle. It is also accompanied by its original
Cartier black alligator strap, instruction manual and presentation box.
Viewings can be arranged in Central London by appointment.
