Cartier, just the name elicits thoughts of elegance and quality. Founded by Louis-Francois Cartier in 1847 in Paris. Cartier was a family business until the mid 1960’s when a finance group bought the company who’s headquarters are still in Paris. Cartier has been known as the brand of royalty in several different countries around Europe where Royal Warrants have been issued for crowns and tiaras for coronations and weddings. Cartier has been making some of the finest watches money can buy since the early part of the twentieth century, a fancy way of saying for the last 110 years. Starting a few years ago Cartier starting putting their first in-house movement, the 1904-CH, in their cool calibre case for their first in-house movement production watch.
The Case
The case is the Cartier Calibre, if you were waiting to for something to follow Calibre there isn’t. This case is by far Cartier’s most masculine manly case, unapologetically so. Some Cartier models can be so refined that either a man of a woman could wear them, not so with any watches using this case. The case has a chunky heft with pronounced lugs and a classy clean round face. It comes in either stainless steel or rose gold and comes in a few different configurations, including the chronograph.
The Movement
The calibre 1904-CH movement is a Cartier in-house chronograph movement. This is Cartier’s first in-house chronograph movement that is available in a production watch. It is similar in design to their base model movement with a chronograph complication. The in-house movements had previously been reserved for Cartier’s super high end watches and limited models, now it will be more readily available to Cartier fans.
The Calibre de Cartier Chronograph
Now lets take a look at the Calibre de Cartier Chronograph as a whole. The dial is a good place to start. It is a very clean looking white with an open date window and two chronograph windows. The dial is kind of cool in another way as well, it is a California dial where the top half of the hour markers are Roman numerals and the bottom half are stick markers. Most people don’t even notice upon first glance and have to be made aware of the difference. It is a cool feature that is not in any way obtrusive nor does it take away from the classiness in a gimmicky way. Rolex was the first to introduce the California dial in some of their models in the sixties, so you can be assured that it is not just a fad thing.
Owning a Cartier watch or really any of their jewelry is having art that you can wear. The Cartier Company has a rich history that is rivaled by few if any. Their diverse product line will ensure future success and maintain their reputation for impeccable style and quality. Buying a Calibre de Cartier Chronograph will have you joining the ranks of kings and queens, politicians and businessmen and their will be no party it will be out of place.
