The shapeliest timepiece in Cartier’s stable yet assumes a new edgy style, thanks to an unusual decorative method
With the angular and highly popular Tank and Santos collections headlining Cartier’s watch line‑up, it is easy to forget that there is yet another elegant shape in the maison’s repertoire. The Baignoire, an oval‑shaped ladies’ watch that takes its name from the French word for bathtub, has actually existed as early as 1912 when brand founder Louis Cartier innovated on the traditional round watch case by “stretching” it out.
The result was a watch case framed by two parallel lines closed off on both ends with curves, which, if you can visualise its form, explains how Cartier found the source of its quirky name. The Baignoire’s shape continued to evolve over the years into a more refined oval that became an iconic Cartier signature in the late 1950s. In those days, the watch had a dial that was stamped with Roman or Arabic numerals and bordered by gold gadroons (a fluted style of decorative edging).
