| Watches have evolved over the past years. It was | | | | in 1942. Thus, Tank Française and Cartier’s |
| improved to meet the demands of its users. The | | | | Privée Collection (1996), Pasha de Cartier (1985), |
| wristwatch we know today was pioneered by Cartier. | | | | Panthère (1983), and Baignoire (1957) came out. The |
| It was Louis Cartier who designed the first wristwatch | | | | Pasha, Santos 100, and Roadster were also revived. |
| for a pilot friend. In 1904, his friend needed a kind of | | | | Here are a few famous models: |
| watch that he can use while on an air flight. The | | | | The Tank Watch |
| Santos model was then born. It was in the later years | | | | During the First World War, Louis Cartier was inspired |
| that the wristwatches designed by Louis boomed. | | | | by the military tank, thus, the tank watch was |
| From then on, Louis Cartier made a commitment to | | | | produced. The first prototype was given to an |
| make sophisticated wristwatches and share it to the | | | | American commander general in Europe, John |
| world. | | | | Pershing. Tank Louis Cartier watch is a showcase of |
| History of Cartier Watches | | | | balance, strength and elegance. It has a small model |
| Cartier’s history was started by a Frenchman | | | | made of 18k yellow gold. The shape is circular, sword |
| named Louis François Cartier, the grandfather, who | | | | shaped steel hands, roman numerals, silver grained dial |
| was an apprentice to Adolphe Picard, a jewelry | | | | and the crown is an 18K grained yellow gold with a |
| maker. Soon, the grandfather established his own | | | | sapphire cabochon. The strap is alligator leather and |
| jewelry business. He passed it to his son, Alfred | | | | the buckle is an 18K gold ardillon. It is water resistant to |
| Cartier. Alfred had three sons named Louis, Jacques | | | | 100 feet or 30 meters. |
| and Pierre. The siblings expanded their jewelry shop | | | | The Baignoire Watch |
| into a watchmaker’s shop. Their perseverance | | | | Baignoire Allongée watch first materialized in 1913. It |
| brought fame and money to the family business. The | | | | was first given to Grand Duchess Pavlovna by Louis |
| worldwide recognition of their masterpieces was | | | | Cartier. This became the prototype for the Baignoire |
| spearheaded by Louis Cartier, the grandson. | | | | collection. The Baignoire 1920 watch is an 18k yellow |
| Cartier watches made a huge impact to the world. | | | | gold. The crown is an 18k grained gold, also with a |
| Royalties, aristocrats, businessmen, other rich people | | | | circular grained crown set with a sapphire cabochon. |
| were very loyal to these timepieces. Men were not | | | | The dial is grained in silver. |
| the only patrons; even women grew a large | | | | It uses a sword shaped steel hands and roman |
| fascination for it which they mostly used as jewelry | | | | numerals. The strap is made from alligator leather and |
| accessories. These pieces for women were made | | | | the buckle is of 18k gold ardillon buckle. It is water |
| more elegantly and fashionably. | | | | resistant up to 30 m/100 feet, and Cartier caliber 057 |
| The famous watch models of Cartier are as follows: | | | | quartz movements. Its femininity is very prominent with |
| Tonneau (1906), Tank (1910), and Tortue (1912). These | | | | the clean lines and the roman numerals mark. |
| were still continuously produced even after Louis died | | | | |