The Shapes of Cartier
Cartier, London
Baignoire | A yellow gold lady’s oval wristwatch with original gold deployant buckle | Made in 1966-67
Auction Closed
May 10, 02:36 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Dial: cream dial signed Cartier, stretched black radial Roman numerals, blued steel pointed baton hands
Movement: 7’’’ tonneau-form movement, signed Jaeger-LeCoultre, damascened Côtes de Genève decoration, lever escapement, jewelled, annular balance, flat hairspring
Movement number: 1'795'457
Case: 18k yellow gold, oval case with rounded sides, soft chamfered inner bezel, beaded cabochon sapphire-set crown, case secured by 4 screws to case sides, concealed gold screw-set lug bars, with [JC] Jacques Cartier punch mark, London hallmarks and date letter ‘l' for 1966-67
Case numbers: outside case back stamped 7623 • 10168 •, inside case back numbered • 10168 •
Closure: 18k gold deployant clasp, London hallmarks with date letter ‘l’ for 1966-67, [JC] Jacques Cartier punch mark and numbered 0997
Size: 19 x 25 mm (width x length including lugs)
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: none
François Chaille, Franco Cologni, The Cartier Collection: Timepieces, Paris: Flammarion, 2006. See p. 457 for a similar example dated 1969.
The Baignoire by Cartier stands as one of the maison’s most distinctive designs, its origins tracing back to 1912 when Louis Cartier reimagined the traditional round watch into an elegant elongated oval. Officially introduced in 1957, the model takes its name from the French word for “bathtub,” a nod to its graceful, curved silhouette.
The present example, hallmarked London for 1966–67 and cased in yellow gold, reflects the creative energy of Cartier London during this period. Known in England as the “Oval,” it features a softly contoured case with a pronounced yet refined inward chamfer, enhancing its sculptural presence.
A refined expression of Cartier’s design-led approach, this example captures the timeless elegance and subtle boldness that define the Baignoire.