Cartier

SJX
[Purist]
8540

• Show profile
• Show other posts

A look at the Calibre de Cartier on bracelet

Last year Cartier launched at Calibre de Cartier, a new design intended to be the flagship men's sports watch. The model has been a hit, especially amongst buyers who previously would not have bought a Cartier because of the perception that they are too formal or feminine. Aside from the aesthetics, the other key attraction of the Calibre is the 1904 MC calibre, the first in-house automatic movement from the brand. But the Calibre de Cartier was only available with an alligator strap, which limited its appeal in some quarters, especially for a watch designed to be sporty.

Cartier has since remedied that with the Calibre de Cartier on bracelet, launched at SIHH 2011 in January. The bracelet models are just hitting the boutiques now.

All the Calibre de Cartier models - steel, steel and gold, and all gold - are available on the bracelet. The bracelet has a simple design, with alternating large and small links with brushed and matte finishing. And like all bracelet bracelets it is hefty and well finished (though admittedly I think the finishing on the Santos bracelet is a small step up). 

Here it is in steel: 

And in rose gold: 

And in steel and rose gold:

Each bracelet link is also curved to match the lines of the lugs. The links are fixed with a pair of screws.

The clasp is a solid double fold with push buttons.

Cartier makes these bracelets in-house at La Chaux-de-Fonds. The raw components are machined here.

And then deburred by hand.

Before being given their final finish by hand.

Now all that's missing is a rubber strap for the Calibre de Cartier. 

- SJX

Site Info.