Review of Cartier new watches 2015: feedback

Jan 26, 2015,01:29 AM
 

Dear FrX,


Thank you for the rapid overview report of the Cartier new watches for 2015 with more reports to come.


SOLID CASE BACK

I agree that the Cartier Rotonde Reversed Tourbillon should have been made more 'PuristS' by a solid caseback. That would have made it even flatter and elegant. There is nothing much to see and the decoration is bland. By using a solid caseback, the sense of  'Gallic disregard' for market trends would have been emphasised. smile










GRAND COMPLICATION

When I saw the new Cartier Rotonde Grande Complication in your photograph, even though it was a Cartier SIHH 2015 Report, I thought of Vacheron Constantin.
That is actually high praise as VC was the King and Queen of skeletonised Grande Complications in the traditional Big-3 of haute horlogerie.
Later, I saw the Cartier crown and Cartier logo engraved on dial and winding rotor.
The springs, levers and clicks are very fine whilst still decorated. Being Geneva Sealed, those springs are not wire but crafted from flat metal.












TORTUE

As a Cartier Paris Collection Privee collector of some Tortue variants, I am pleased that the elegant watch has returned to the portfolio following the Tank LC from last year. The first Cartier watch that the current Mrs MTF presented to me was the CPCP Tortue. The case shape has special meaning from an aesthetic as well as Chinese symbolic viewpoint.



CLE

We wait to see what this range does. The shape has been done before by other brands and I have the museum photos; but Cartier has the knack of incorporating their own motifs "to make it their own". Certainly, Ballon Bleu was and is a Success......even the current Mrs MTF insisted to have one (and I am jealous). wink
The true test is what she says when I show e new Cartier Cle to her.........



CONCLUSION

Overall, a Good Year for Cartier in the SIHH Desert of Mediocrity with intermittent Oases of Brilliance.


Regards,
MTF


This message has been edited by MTF on 2015-01-26 06:21:34


More posts: Ballon BleuRotondeTank

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

SIHH 2015: Cartier Report

 
 By: foversta : January 25th, 2015-10:21
I have the feeling to write the same words years after years but one again, Cartier was the most active and creative brand of the SIHH. Not a surprise when we know the turnover share of Cartier within Richemont but not so obvious when you have in the same...  

I would like to precise that I didn't shoot the PG Tank Skeleton Sapphire...

 
 By: foversta : January 25th, 2015-11:30
... which is a 2015 novelty. I will do it later this year. Fx

The " Crash " is the one for me. Stunning. A mix of punk attitude and feminity, strangely.

 
 By: amanico : January 25th, 2015-11:37
Surprising... Best, and thanks for this comprehensive report, Fx. Nicolas

Thank you for the report

 
 By: L. Joel : January 25th, 2015-20:00
Well done. Best wishes, Joel

Thanks Joel! [nt]

 
 By: foversta : January 27th, 2015-14:35

Review of Cartier new watches 2015: feedback

 
 By: MTF : January 26th, 2015-01:29
Dear FrX, Thank you for the rapid overview report of the Cartier new watches for 2015 with more reports to come. SOLID CASE BACK I agree that the Cartier Rotonde Reversed Tourbillon should have been made more 'PuristS' by a solid caseback. That would have...  

Thanks Melvyn for your additional comments!

 
 By: foversta : January 27th, 2015-14:37
And yes, we will come back with more details on some of these watches. Fx

Crash!

 
 By: respo : January 26th, 2015-09:55
Thanks for this great report, Fx. Cartier continues to dazzle as in recent years with some amazing high-end novelties. The Crash is perhaps my favorite SIHH release for 2015 from ANY brand. It is like a dream...and given its very limited production and pr... 

Disagree

 
 By: CastorKrieg : January 26th, 2015-12:51
I had a different sort of experience. First of all, the brand beefed up their booth artificially by including a lot of jewelry and jewelry watches. Understandable for a jewelry/watch brand such as Cartier, but a bit disappointing nevertheless. Then we hav... 

How can I answer you?

 
 By: foversta : January 27th, 2015-15:04
Yes the Cartier booth is the larger one, logic when we consider the weight of Cartier in Richemont turnover... Logic to see jewels in the booth since Cartier is also a jeweler... you have the same with Piaget... but sorry, I didn't count the people per sq... 

Agreed with many of your points

 
 By: CastorKrieg : January 27th, 2015-15:46
The new collection is simply underwhelming for me. Looks like a small tweak. I would've preferred a new bezel entirely, what VC did with their Harmony collection.

Also

 
 By: CastorKrieg : January 27th, 2015-15:48
About Cle being a strategic collection - the booth featured in its windows many historical pieces. There is a reason why many of them are not in production - Cartier has a long line of designs that were not successful and were abandoned a few years after.... 

And every year I have the same thought...

 
 By: tudorctin : January 27th, 2015-09:17
Cartier did it again! I hope this year I will not hear comments like Cartier is more a jeweller than a manufacture... Now about watches: 1. Rotonde de Cartier Reversed Tourbillon I don't like the combination tourbillon + mainspring barrel, clutch lever, e... 

The Grande Comp's movement is just as mesmerizing as that of the ALS Double Split!

 
 By: BABKA : January 30th, 2015-22:08
Cartier has produced a very splendid watch here. Thanks for terrific report Foversta!

Thanks a lot Babka!

 
 By: foversta : January 31st, 2015-15:33
Yes, we can say that the movement produces the same WOW even if of course it is very different: not the same decoration style, not the same feeling of depth but... as gorgeous and as fascinating. I have to confess that it embodies a style which was not us... 

Excellent report.

 
 By: TheMadDruid : February 1st, 2015-14:19
The "Crash" is a real stunner. I can't wait to see it and try it on. And I will be following with great interest how things go with the "Cle". In pictures it has a real presence.

Thanks Padj!

 
 By: foversta : February 21st, 2015-13:23
And of course, we will come back to these watches during the year! Fx