by Mirella Haddad

In this year’s edition of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), Cartier displays watches made with an artistic minimalist approach. Fine watchmaking and simplicity meet jewelry style and art in a timeless piece that reflects the daring spirit and expertise of the renowned French house.

Rotonde de Cartier Grande Complication watch reflects watchmaking expertise at its best. Its 578 components took 5 years of development, 15 weeks of production, 10 weeks of decorating and finishing, and 5 weeks of assembly. In a thickness of 5.49 millimeters comes a self-winding mechanical movement that gathers a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater and a flying tourbillion. This timepiece features an elegant 45mm platinum case, a dial in 18-carat gold and a black alligator strap. It is able to recognize not only whether a month has 30 or 31 days, but also the month of February – even in leap years.


The Crash Skeleton watch is a legendary piece that was created by Cartier in 1967. This timepiece is distinguished by its shape and reflects the carefree spirit of an era that was all about freedom. The shape was inspired by a damaged Cartier watch that a client sent to the brand’s headquarter in London. Its case is made from platinum and its straps from grey alligator skin. It features a mechanical movement with manual winding.



Rêve de Panthères – Day/Night Complication watch is a timeless piece that reflects Cartier’s artistic watchmaking. Three panthers enter in the decoration of the timepiece that features a Day/Night movement. The watch’s sky changes from starry night to shining sun and its 42mm 18-carat white gold dial is full set with brilliant-cut diamonds, while its strap comes in dark-blue alligator skin.



Ballon Bleu de Cartier Vibrating Setting watch reflects more than 160 years of jewelry expertise and combines jewelry and watchmaking. Utterly feminine and modern, this version of the Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch reveals the energy of the diamonds used in the design. Just like the bracelet, the 42mm case is made of 18-carat white gold fully set with brilliant-cut diamonds.



The Ronde Louis Cartier Filigree watch reinvents the time-old filigree techniques. Just like lace, the filigree is a technique that uses gold or silver wires soldered together to resemble a grid. For this technique, Cartier chose gold, platinum and diamonds. This timepiece features a 42mm case made of 18-carat yellow gold set with brilliant-cut diamonds and a dark blue alligator skin strap.



Large Model Tortue watch features a panther stone mosaic motif on its dial. This timepiece is available in a limited edition of 30 pieces. Its case is made of 18-carat pink gold set with brilliant-cut diamonds and its strap of black alligator skin.



Rotonde de Cartier watch features a damascened panther motif and is available in a limited edition of 50 pieces. Its 42mm case is made of 18-carat pink gold and its strap of brown alligator skin.



Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch features an orchid granulation and engraved mother-of-pearl motif. It is available in a limited edition of 40 pieces. Its 42mm case is made of 18-carat yellow gold set with brilliant-cut diamonds and its strap of white alligator skin.