Cartier’s Shift Towards Smaller Dials

Watches-as-Jewellery

The mini watch trend emerged from the aughts’ when discreet luxury gave way to maximalism in fashion, which faded away in the post-pandemic era. The emphasis on unisex products, purposeful dressing, and athleisure has led customers to look for products that do more with less. The mini watch, which styles very much like a bracelet, is exactly that. One example is Cartier’s Baignoire watch, which emblemises a watch with the aesthetics of a wrist-jewellery. Since 1912, Cartier’s designers have experimented with its proportions and incorporating jewellery elements into the bracelet of the watch.

A bangle with oval links was fitted to the Baignoire in the mid-60s, fitting the bold, bohemian trend of the era. In 2023, Cartier presented the Baignoire once more in a fitted bangle, with a mini-sized model at 24.6mm and a slightly larger 31.4mm version the following year. The smooth and polished case and bracelet of the Baignoire is as much jewellery as it is a functional watch, powered by a high-precision quartz movement. This year, the Baignoire Clou de Paris expands on the style of the gold jewellery-watch, applying the motif on the entire case, dial, and bracelet. A diamond-set version of the Baignoire resembles the design of the Clash de Cartier, with a fully paved dial and protruding diamond studs resembling the motif’s clous carrées.

The benefit of using quartz also offers the jeweller-watchmaker the freedom to craft exquisite and creative models such as the Myst de Cartier. This remarkable high jewellery bracelet watch comes in fully paved white gold model set with 986 diamonds, or in yellow gold with black lacquer and 634 diamonds on the case and bracelet. The dials of each model are paved with 45 and 47 brilliant-cut diamonds as well. By carefully shaping grooves on the case and bracelet that are set with brilliant-cut diamonds of different sizes, it creates a visual illusion of a wave, like threads of gold that flex freely on the wrist.

The Panthère de Cartier was launched in the 1980s and took its name from the bracelet, designed to echo the movements of its namesake animal. And at its launch, Cartier picked a gentleman to promote the watch, even though its proportions seemed targeted towards ladies. Pierce Brosnan became synonymous with the watch and in recent years, that has also led male collectors to view mini watches as a unisex product, not specific to any demographic.

It also invites us to ask: what is the “right” size for a watch? Is there such a standard, and if so, what is the standard that conforms to? In an era where personal style and individual identity is coveted and admired, the right watch is one that we reach for and feel comfortable in. And perhaps, also brings a smile when we see just how tiny it looks on our wrists. Mini watches are a way of reminding ourselves not to take life too seriously; if so, it is a return on that purchase that’s invaluable.

There’s nothing like trying on a mini watch to really appreciate how it feels; head to any of our boutiques today to check them out. Otherwise, you can also make an appointment with our sales representatives to discover these mini models.