Manufacturer: Cartier Year: 1991 Reference No: W1507451 Case No: 009-91, A108005 Model Name: Baignoire Allongée Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Cartier leather strap Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Cartier deployant clasp Dimensions: 23mm Width, 54mm Length Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Cartier Certificate, instruction booklet, red document holder, additional unsigned leather strap and fitted presentation box
Catalogue Essay
The first two decades of the past century were highly prolific under a design point of view. Cartier, for example, introduced a number of pieces which went on to make the history of the brand, the “Baignoire” being one of them. Launched in 1957 and available in the New York and London boutiques, its design was inspired by an early Cartier oval wristwatch and, notoriously, by the shape of a bathtub, hence its name. Soon after its introduction, the brand experimented with the model giving birth to the oversize “allongée” version. So successful was this design that it will be the base for another iconic Cartier timepiece - the crash.
In 1991 Cartier re-issued the model in a 400 pieces limited edition for its Collection Privé series, an out-of-catalogue line of pieces reserved for the most faithful clients of the maison. The present example, offered in extremely well-preserved condition and accompanied by its original Certificate and box, is a specimen from this restricted production.
With the Constitution of 1848 came a new standard for luxury in France. Founded one year prior by Louis-Francois Cartier, the house of Cartier was one of the first to use platinum in jewelry making. This incredibly expensive material became the stepping-stone for Cartier to experiment in form, mechanisms and attitude. It helped men move from pocket watches to wristwatches, effectively making the watch much more functional and prominent in a man's overall wardrobe.
Cartier did not only touch on functionality. Inspired by a commissioned painting by George Barbier featuring a black panther at the feet of an elegantly bejeweled woman, Cartier began incorporating wild animals in his designs—most notably, Cartier Panthère rings, bangle bracelets and watches. Yet it wasn't until the late 1960s that the house of Cartier debuted their iconic yellow and rose gold LOVE collection, which includes the famous bracelet that only a special screwdriver can open.