Wristwatch, Cartier Baignoire, Paris, 1960s

Model: Baignoire Case Material: 18K yellow gold Bracelet Material: Leather strap Movement: Manual, 18 jewels Case N°: 029'429, 58'894 Movement N°: 1'971'754 Dimensions: 23mm width x 31mm length Signed: Case, dial and movement Born in 1912 from a design by Louis Cartier, the Baignoire line ranks among the creations most intimately associated with the history of the Parisian Maison.

Officially introduced into the Cartier catalogue in the late 1950s, it reinterpreted the round case, then the prevailing form, through a pure and elongated aesthetic. Its distinctive silhouette evoked that of a bathtub, giving the model its name. The present example, dating from the 1960s, embodies this historic lineage with remarkable purity. Its 18K yellow-gold case adopts the characteristic oval form of the model, distinguished by its smooth caseband and fluid, harmonious lines. The light grey dial features hand-painted black Roman numerals, reflecting the artisanal craftsmanship that characterised Cartier’s production during this period. The signatures “Cartier” and “Paris” are displayed in full, attesting to the Parisian origin of the timepiece.

This distinction was particularly significant for the Maison at the time, which clearly differentiated its French production from the watches subsequently manufactured in its Swiss workshops. Produced in very limited quantities and often made to order, they bear witness to a formative period during which Cartier was still refining the aesthetic codes that would, several decades later, establish the worldwide reputation of this now-iconic line.