No, it’s not a Tank. And yes, it deserves your attention!
While Parisian jeweler to the stars Cartier may be best known in horological circles for its famed Tank watches, the French firm produced — and continues to produce — numerous other models that deserve equal billing for their unique and sumptuous designs.
The Baignoire — or ‘bathtub,’ for us troglodytes — is a collection that dates all the way back to 1906. Elegantly rounded with a thick, wide bezel, The Baignoire still exists in the current Cartier line-up as a series of svelte ladies’ watches whose proportions and executions simply ooze elegance.
This particular example dates back to the 2000s and features a 18mm white gold case with a smooth bezel, a back-setting crown, a sapphire crystal, and a white dial with printed black Roman indices and a matching 'sword' handset. Fitted to a stunning, stylized white gold bracelet with a hidden, double fold-over deployant clasp, it’s powered by a reliable quartz movement.
Several watches from different manufacturers have taken on the smooth, serpentine aspect of the Baignoire over the years — but there’s something about the original that betrays a thorough understanding of how to execute elegance perfectly.