Pre-SIHH: The Cartier Crash Radieuse & Baignoire Watches

Wave two of pre-SIHH watches from the Parisian watchmaker Cartier, focuses on the Cartier Libre collection. The concept behind this particular collection allows for the maison to take their existing designs, stretch and compress these in unexpected ways, so as to create unusual reinterpretations.

On that note, the first of the watches presented is a version of the Crash. Created in yellow gold, the famed watch here features a dial that seems to be depitcing a radiating ripple. This effect carries on even to the case of the watch, where the ripples flow to the very edge of its bezel.

Given that the last we saw a Crash in the sale catalogues was with the 2015 Crash Skeleton, it’s great to see Cartier having produced yet another animation of the watch just two years on. Safe to say, though, that many of us are all looking forward to the day the maison brings back an incarnation of the original 1967 crash.

Regardless, the 2018 version will be fitted with the 8970 MC handwound movement and limited to just 50 pieces.

The remaining watches making up for the present announcement are all variations of the Baignoire watch, or bathtub watch when translated directly from its French name. Keeping that in mind the first watch is the Baignoire Débordante, or bathtub overflowing, the name of which is quite literally brought to life using an openworked bezel that’s decorated with diamonds & black spinels. This one sports a quartz movement and will be limited to 50 pieces.

Next, the Baignoire Infinie, or bathtub infinite, which again has its name visually translated to give this sensation that you are looking into a never ending point of singularity. This is achieved by means of the three-tiered bezel decoration, using baguette-cut diamonds, white mother-of-pearl, Tahitian mother-of-pearl, and black spinels. Again a quartz piece that will be limited to 20 pieces.

The second last watch, the Baignoire Etoilée, or starry bathtub, depicts cascading stars on its bracelet by means of its white gold, case and bracelet set with diamonds and black spinels. Again quartz and limited to 15 pieces.

The last watch, the Baignoire Interdite, or forbidden bathtub, finally has the oval of the Baignoire reorientated to its side and then wrapped with large, dark ADLC roman numerals that seem to hold the watch captive. Otherwise the piece is in white gold with its bezel paved; quartz movement and limited to 50 pieces.

With that we’re told that Cartier’s pre-SIHH pieces are well and announced. Now for SIHH proper.

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