Cartier Baignoire: Classic Revamped
The typical ‘Baignoire’ watch returns to the front stage to seduce a new generation of aesthetes.
Historical muses
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In the very early days of the Art Déco, while we were still swearing by the flourishing complexities of Art Nouveau, Louis Cartier and Charles Jacqueau questioned the shape and volume of the designs, and approached pure abstraction for their reference. Taking cue, circa 1912 witnessed the dominance of the oval watch as it represented the gentleness and rigour of the formal timepieces of the house. Later, in 1958, when the curved oval wristwatch was already among the classics of Cartier, efforts to design more creative variations were still on. Finally, in 1973, it inherited its final face and shined on the wrists of legendary Parisiennes, Catherine Deneuve and Jeanne Moreau, to name a few.
Modern transition
Lately, the house took over its classic watchmakers to enhance the appearance and reputation of the piece. Reworked by Cartier’s design studio, the new Baignoire watch recovers the energy of the original model from 1958. The bracelet is narrower, the Roman numerals have been redrawn on a silver sandblasted background, but the look and presence of its class, is unchanged. This timeless signature has now been reformed into its most contemporary form ever.
From the November–December 2019 issue of L’Officiel India.
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