Cartier has never been one to shy away from its history, and this year is no different. They’ve rummaged through its archives to pull out its most historic shapes, giving them just enough air to breathe again. There aren’t any forceful reinventions here; it’s more of what we know, just viewed through a different lens and angle, keeping things fresh yet nostalgic. From the return of the Roadster to the new slinky bracelet of the Santos Dumont, Cartier is one of those Maisons that doesn’t have to do too much. A simple reminder of its illustrious history is often enough to bring the house (or in this case, watch fair) down.
Cartier Privé
For the uninitiated, the Cartier Privé is an annual “collector’s” series that reinterprets vintage designs for modern times. This year, they’re doing it slightly differently by celebrating the 10th Opus of the Privé, highlighting three of the Maison’s most emblematic shapes: the Tank Normale, the Tortue Chronographe Monopoussoir and the Crash Squelette. Each of them is tied together by two threads: platinum cases and burgundy accents.
More notably, the Crash Squelette (arguably the most sought-after Cartier watch) stands out with its distorted, skeletonised dial that uses its bridge to form Roman numerals. The bridges are hammered entirely by hand, showcasing the Maison’s unending pursuit of technological artistry. It’s no wonder the watch is limited to just 150 pieces worldwide.
Roadster de Cartier
Discontinued since 2012, the Roadster has been living in the minds of collectors and enthusiasts for more than a decade now, but Cartier is finally indulging them. The Roadster revival retains all its important, speedy visual elements that made its predecessor such a cult classic in the first place. It starts and ends with the aerodynamic tonneau-shaped case, a speedometer-esque dial, an integrated conical crown and a headlight-shaped date magnifier.
Modern updates show subtly, through the addition of four rivets on the bezel and a more flexible bracelet with the Maison’s signature QuickChange system. The Roadster 2.0 is offered in a large (38 mm) and a medium (34.9 mm), with options of either a steel, steel-and-gold or gold case.
Cartier Tortue
After the Santos-Dumont and Tonneau, the Tortue was the third wristwatch case to be explored by the brand in 1912. Simply put, it’s one of the most historic models in Cartier’s illustrious catalogue, which made it a prime candidate to be released under the Privé collection (most recently in 2024). But the Tortue is final
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