Cartier

PuristSPro.com
Cartier Beverly Hills boutique
Beverly Hills, California

Hello all!

Team PuristSPro recently visited the flagship Cartier Beverly Hills boutique located on the prestigious Rodeo Drive. Opening it's doors in 1980 and located in it's current location since 1998, the French luxury maker is well known for their watches, writing instruments, jewelry, and other fine accessories.  Our host was Cartier Watch Specialist Mr. Pierre-Henri B.

In a special section of the boutique is the display for the complicated pieces.

A Cartier wrist shot    Pierre-Henri was interested in watches since he was 12 so he was very enthusiastic while talking to us!  Here he's wearing one of his favorite personal piece, wonderful!

First up is the eye catching Cartier Rotonde central chronograph watch

Housed in a 46mm x 14.2 mm thick case (available in pink gold and white gold) with mechanical with manual winding movement Cartier caliber 9907 MC.  The two layered dial gives this pieces a stunning design.  At the the top is the blued hand for the sweeping seconds.  The lower arc display area functions as a 30 minute counter.

An interesting design of this piece is that the chronograph use of a column wheel with a vertical clutch instead of a cam system.  With this unique layout, the display of the hours or minutes is never blocked when the chrono is functioning.

Although the size of the case is large, the watch wears very well on smaller wrists.

In addition to the Rotonde, a Cartier Tank Americaine Flying Tourbillion:

and the equally impressive Ballon Bleu Flying Tourbillion:

-MW

PuristSPro.com
Cartier Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California


Next up we get to see the Cartier Roadster XL in pink gold Limited and Numbered Edition

Pierre-Henri gives us the fascinating history behind the the Cartier Roadster case design which was inspired by the headlights of race cars of the 50's and 60's.   He also demonstrated the clever quick change strap system (see following pics below) for either the 18kt gold bracelet or Alligator strap on deployant.

Note the solid gold crown where most Cartier pieces would have a blue cabochon

How cool is this walnut burl wood dial?  Awesome

Wood accents flow and is integrated as central links in the bracelet design.

Quick change designs allow rapid interchangeability.

More on the way!


-MW

too rarely is this the case.

Cartier seems to be on a roll, and going from strength to strength.

Chapeau!

TM

Pierre-Henri's knowledge of the history of Cartier and the watches in the collection were very impressive.  Not only is he a great guy, he's a fellow watch enthusiast so he's definitely one of us!

-MW

and amazing too since this piece is limited to only 150pc.
It's a watch that one needs to seeing in the flesh, the wood dial and the wood
in between the links looks so special.
GEO

Hello Geo,

Agree, the Roadster walnut dial and links is indeed amazing.   I recommend anyone who is in the L.A. area to stop and visit the Cartier Beverly Hills boutique as they have a lot of interesting limited and rare pieces.

-MW

I love the unique use of wood on the dial of this watch.  It's very appropriate to the roadster theme.

Cheers,

Daos

Hello Daos,

I keep thinking of how cool the walnut dial and links are.  Since the Roadster was inspired by automobiles, it's perfect as the interior trim of fine cars uses wood accents.

Thanks for looking, if you get a chance check it out at the Cartier BH boutique if they still have it.

-MW

DRMW,

Thanks for the virtual tour.

The Roadster with solid gold crown and wood dial is unusual.  It is so unusual that we need an explanation, that being one of the so-called 'signs' of a fake watch! 

I know -  I know, this is the official Cartier store, but  that is why I still have to ask

 Is it exclusive to all boutiques or Beverly Hills?

Regards,

MTF

I think that a unique watch such as this Cartier Roadster walnut it deserves something different so the all gold crown works.

-MW

Anthony Tsai has reported here in the forum, extensively about this Roadster,
when the watch was introduced at the SIHH in 2008.

cartier.watchprosite.com

Nice pics DRMW.  On the Cartier Roadster, I really like how the walnut burl wood is integrated in the dial and the bracelet.  Looking forward to more pics.

Regards,
ED-209

Hello ED209,

Thanks for looking.  The walnut integrated as links and dial is fantastic idea.  Very clean design and a must see in person, check it out at the Cartier BH Boutique when you can.

-MW


This message has been edited by DRMW on 2010-04-16 23:28:32

I like Pierre-Henri's Tank Obus; that's an uncommon watch. Great shots of the high horology collection, especially the Central Chronograph.

However, in contrast to the other opinions, the Roadster with the wood dial isn't my cup of tea. It's too shiny and the wood is too heavily lacquered in my opinion, losing its natural richness. Admittedly it has to be heavily lacquered to prevent it from staining etc but it just looks like an odd combination.

Thanks for the great report. You seem to have visited every single watch boutique in LA and Vegas.

- SJX

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PuristSPro.com
Cartier Beverly Hills Boutique
Beverly Hills, California

Let's take a look at other Cartier pieces.....

Another timepiece from the current Cartier collection that IMO was interesting:

The different sizes fit a variety of style and wrists:

Check out the dial!  Beautiful yet classic design.

Pierre-Henri Watch Specialist of Catier Boutique Beverly Hills is also a GIA certified Gemologist.  He asked: "Would you like to see something special?" 

What's this masterpiece Cartier work of art?  To be continued.......

-MW

Incredible ! They still have one Tortue Monopoussoir and a Tortue Perpetual Calendar in stock !

of the two models that were released, this smaller version is so much better looking
than it's bigger brother. Better dial balance.
I am impressed with their CPCP stock.
GEO

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I am not a big fan of Cartier watches but I hae to admit Cartier is doing a very good job, in my opinion.  Some of the new models are really beautiful and exclusive creations.

From the Geneva Seal line, my favorites are the WG ones, specially the Tank Americaine.

I don't know if you had the opportunity to see the new Santos Dumont Skeleton in WG. What a stunning timepiece, it looks fantastic.

 

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

 

 

Vte

I've always liked the Cartier Santos line.  What do you think of the Santos 100 DLC version?

-MW

Love it together with the rubber one. The stealth look of the DLC/Ti version is stunning.

Would wear it anyday.

 

Cheers.

 

 

Vte

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