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Cartier
Cartier began in Paris in 1847, when Louis-François Cartier took over the workshop of his master. The house made its name in jewellery and then shaped the modern wristwatch: the Santos in 1904, the Tank in 1917, and the Panthère, the animal that has been a Cartier emblem for more than a century.
Choosing a Cartier watch
Start with the shape, because Cartier watches are defined by it. The Tank is the rectangle: quiet, flat and made for a shirt cuff, in the Française on a bracelet, the Must on leather or the Américaine, longer and curved. The Santos is square with its visible screws, the sportier choice. The Panthère sits on a soft bracelet that moves like jewellery. The Ballon Bleu is round with its sapphire crown guard, the Baignoire an oval that wears almost like a bangle, and the Pasha round and bold.
Size and metal
Most models come in several sizes. Mini and small suit a slim wrist and read as jewellery; medium and large are the everyday sizes for most wrists. Steel is the practical choice, gold and two-tone the dressier ones, and diamonds on the bezel make a watch for evenings and occasions.
A Cartier for a wedding
A Cartier watch is one of the classic wedding gifts, from a couple to each other or from a bride to her groom: a Tank for him, a Panthère or Baignoire for her, or matching Tanks in two sizes. Engraving is best arranged with the store after you buy.
What it costs
Across the 35 Cartier watches in our edit, prices run from £3,200 to £81,000. Steel models start the range; gold, diamonds and the jewellery watches sit at the top. Prices are checked daily against the store that sells each piece, and you buy from that store directly.
Cartier: your questions answered
When did Cartier start?
Cartier dates from 1847, when Louis-François Cartier took over his master’s jewellery workshop in Paris.
What is the difference between the Tank and the Santos?
The Tank (1917) is rectangular, flat and understated, the classic dress watch. The Santos (1904) is square, with visible screws on the bezel and bracelet, and wears more like a sports watch.
Which Cartier watch is best as a wedding gift?
The Tank is the most traditional choice for either partner. For a bride, the Panthère and Baignoire wear like jewellery; for a groom, the Santos is the sportier alternative. Matching Tanks in two sizes are a popular pairing.
How much is a Cartier watch?
In our edit, Cartier watches run from £3,200 to £81,000, checked daily against the store that sells each one. Steel models are at the start of the range; gold and diamond pieces at the top.
How much does Cartier cost here?
Cartier pieces we carry run from £827 to £81,000, and half cost less than £5,875. Each price is shown with the date it was last checked against the store.
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