Cartier’s second pre announcement is, like last week, another ‘Ladies First’. After we saw the important release of the new watch for men, the Tank MC, this Summer, it’s now time for the ladies again, with an amazing new Ballon bleu.

Almost every year Cartier presents a few new pieces from their exclusive Métiers d’Art series. Our last article about these time pieces can still be found HERE.

This time Cartier shook up tradition with creativity and innovation while reanimating scarce and forgotten crafts: such is the challenge that Cartier has been passionately pursuing for several years. During which time the brand has built up a formidable collection of exceptional watches. In celebration of the transient beauty of flowers and in order to preserve it for eternity, Cartier started this year a new craft in watchmaking: ‘floral marquetry’, which adorns and enlivens the dial of this new Ballon Bleu de Cartier.

The case of the Ballon Bleu de Cartier floral-marquetry parrot watch, is 42mm and made in rhodium plated white gold. The bezel is set with 124 brilliant cut diamonds, totalling 1.80 carats. Contrary to most Cartier’s diamond set watches, the fluted crown is not set with a diamond, but with a blue sapphire cabochon.
The dial is made in rhodium-plated 18-carat white gold and 18-carat pink gold with floral marquetry and onyx. The eye is emerald . Quite different is the strap in white semi-matt alligator skin with a double adjustable folding buckle in rhodium-plated 18 carat white gold, set with 43 diamonds.
Inside the case….. the well known and very reliable automatic winding caliber 049.

Cartier is often seen as a brand that produces in fairly large numbers and therefor it is só to appreciate that ‘La Maison’, from time to time, still produces small Limited Editions. This Ballon Bleu is another proof that collectors are not be forgotten. Just 50 pieces will be produced, so do not expect to find this model in stock in the Boutique.
In this case an appointment with your contact person is absolute advisable.

–GEO is contributor of Revo-Online & Revolution Magazine and passionate about Cartier, independents and fine watchmaking,
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