The Cartier Baignoire Is Fashion’s Next Favorite Timepiece
You don’t have to be a watch fanatic to love the look of the Cartier revival style.

Created in the early 1900s, “baignoire” is French for “bathtub,” an allusion to the watch’s oval dial and sumptuous rounded oval bezel.
The 2023 quartz-powered version sees the bezel even larger, which is in line with the chunky gold metal trend seen in fine jewelry from the likes of Brent Neale or Jessica McCormack.
To make it even more jewelry-like, it’s attached to a bangle rather than a traditional watch bracelet, though there’s a black leather strap version, too.
It’s available in rose gold and yellow gold for $11,800 or white gold with full diamond pavé (seen below) for $48,800.

With fashion and watch enthusiasts alike buzzing over the new Baignoire debuted at Watches & Wonders Geneva, expect it to join the ranks of Cartier’s most popular timepiece styles in the future.
Speaking of which, Cartier also showcased updates to its classic “Tank” timepiece.

Originally created in 1917, this year Cartier introduced an hour and minute version with a yellow gold case on a brown alligator strap (above) and with a platinum case on a black alligator strap. There are also versions with a gold bracelet and platinum bracelet (below).
The watch is powered by a mechanical movement with manual winding.

There is also a new Cartier Tank with skeleton movement. It has a 24-hour complication with a sun and crescent moon, also skeletonized.
The minute hand turns around the dial in one hour as usual, but the hour hand turns around the dial in 24 hours instead of every 12 hours.

The watch is available in 50 numbered editions, in yellow gold on a brown or green alligator strap with a blue sapphire cabochon on the crown ($71,000) and in platinum on a burgundy or gray alligator strap with a ruby cabochon ($80,000).

There are also 20 numbered editions of a version with brilliant-cut diamonds and an alligator strap in two shades of blue plus a diamond on the crown ($107,000).
The Tank isn’t Cartier’s only timepiece getting the skeleton movement treatment in 2023. The Santos-Dumont is also available in a special skeleton version.
Originally introduced in 1904, the Santos-Dumont last received a design upgrade in 2019.
This year’s version is powered by the 9629 MC automatic skeleton calibre movement with micro-rotor, which took Cartier nearly two years to develop. The movement is comprised of 212 components.
It is available in a rose gold version ($40,400) or stainless steel ($31,000), as well as a limited-edition yellow gold version with navy lacquer ($41,600), pictured below.

Switching gears, the rectangular-dialed Tank Américaine was launched in 1989 and inspired by the Tank Cintrée.
The 2023 edition offers a more streamlined silhouette powered by the new 1899 MC movement.

There are a variety of metal case and strap combinations, including steel and 18-karat gold cases and steel, 18-karat gold, and leather straps. Some are available in diamond pavé.
The timepiece starts at $3,400 for the mini steel version on a leather strap.
Also at Watches & Wonders, the Clash de Cartier jewelry collection received its first timepieces.
![The new Clash [Un]Limited timepiece 20230411_Cartier11.jpg](https://nationaljeweler.com/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBc1pPIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--b7d7547786ceb193fa28d6fde7e4c2d54356230a/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdERG9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2RkhKbGMybDZaVjkwYjE5c2FXMXBkRnNIYVFJQUJHa0NBQU02RkhOaGJYQnNhVzVuWDJaaFkzUnZja2tpQ2pRNk1qb3dCanNHVkRvS2MzUnlhWEJVT2c1cGJuUmxjbXhoWTJWSklnbEtVRVZIQmpzR1ZEb1BZMjlzYjNKemNHRmpaVWtpQ1hOU1IwSUdPd1pVT2d4eGRXRnNhWFI1YVZBPSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--ea15daad36a7f7266e7d591867d534d851352260/20230411_Cartier11.jpg)
A design-forward bracelet incorporates rolling ball bearings that move.
The limited-edition timepieces, called the “Clash [Un]Limited,” are available in yellow, rose, and white gold, as well as diamond pavé versions. There are special editions featuring gems like black spinels, chrysoprase, tsavorite, coral, onyx, and obsidian.
![A special version of the new Clash [Un]Limited features diamonds, coral, onyx, tsavorite garnets, and chrysoprase. 20230411_Cartier10.jpg](https://nationaljeweler.com/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBc2RPIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--0b02d332504933322ab9dc93a3f6e9d74adafd9a/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdERG9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2RkhKbGMybDZaVjkwYjE5c2FXMXBkRnNIYVFJQUJHa0NBQU02RkhOaGJYQnNhVzVuWDJaaFkzUnZja2tpQ2pRNk1qb3dCanNHVkRvS2MzUnlhWEJVT2c1cGJuUmxjbXhoWTJWSklnbEtVRVZIQmpzR1ZEb1BZMjlzYjNKemNHRmpaVWtpQ1hOU1IwSUdPd1pVT2d4eGRXRnNhWFI1YVZBPSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--ea15daad36a7f7266e7d591867d534d851352260/20230411_Cartier10.jpg)
The quartz-powered watches retail beginning at $33,300.
There were also novelties unveiled for the Panthère de Cartier range.
Unlike the wearable, square dial of the classic Panthère, these feature a striking panther head in ode to one of Cartier’s most famous symbols.

The cat can “close its jaws” over the black lacquer dial. The watch’s geometry and sharp angles are inspired by the Panthère jewelry launched in 2005, Cartier said. The watch’s bracelet is fully articulated and flexible without visible hinges.
The watch is available in yellow or rose gold as well as a white gold and diamond version. Powered by quartz, the range starts at $27,800 for the smallest version.
The Latest

The 23-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, set to headline Christie’s May jewelry auction, was expected to sell for as much as $50 million.

G.B. Heron Jewelers in Salisbury, Maryland, is set to close as its owner, Jeff Cassels, retires.

Emmanuel Raheb outlines the differences between the two platforms and posits that the most successful jewelers use both.

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

The miner said its April sale featured a mix of commercial-quality primary rubies and secondary rubies of varying quality.


U.S. customs agents in El Paso, Texas, intercepted the package, which would have been worth $9 million if the jewelry was genuine.

Health monitors become statement pieces when paired with the brand’s new collection of stackable diamond-studded bands.

Six new retail businesses were selected for the 2025 program, which began in January.

Ten organizations were selected this year.

Kim Carpenter and Sam Gevisenheit have joined the brand.

“Shell Auranova” is the next generation of the brand’s bridal line, featuring half-bezel engagement rings with bold and fluid designs.

Boucheron and Pomellato performed well in an otherwise bleak quarter for Kering amid struggles at Gucci.

Designer Deborah Meyers created her birds from oxidized sterling silver, rose-cut diamond eyes, and Akoya Keshi pearl feathers.

The company said it expects sightholders to remain “cautious” with their purchasing due to all the unknowns around the U.S. tariffs.

Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America

Simon Wolf shares why the time was right to open a new office here, what he looks for in a retail partner, and why he loves U.S. consumers.

A third-generation jeweler, Ginsberg worked at his family’s store, Ginsberg Jewelers, from 1948 until his retirement in 2019.

The company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.

The organization also announced its board of directors.

Charms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.

The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.