Manufacturer: Cartier Year: Circa 2014 Reference No: 3000 Case No: 116965LX Model Name: Ballon Bleu de Cartier Material: 18k white gold Calibre: Automatic, 049, 21 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18k white gold Cartier bracelet, 165 mm. maximum length Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold Cartier concealed folding double deployant clasp Dimensions: 42 mm. diameter Signed:Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
The present watch features all distinguished elements of the Ballon Bleu de Cartier collection. With a white gold curved case, the watch is fitted with black Roman numerals against a silvered engine-turned dial, adding a dash of elegance to the wrist. What further compliments the watch is the cabochon sapphire-set crown within the protective curved arch, giving the watch a classic yet eye-catching futuristic appearance.
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.