A Precious Hybrid
ELLE Singapore|July 2023
Belonging To A Watch Collection That Bears The French Word For “bathtub” In Its Name, The New Cartier Baignoire Is The Jewellery Timepiece We All Want To Add To Our Arm Stack
CAROLINE SUGANDA
A Precious Hybrid

If you’re a non-French speaking watch connoisseur who knows what “baignoire” means, it’s no doubt because you’re well acquainted with one of Cartier’s most distinctive watch designs. Referencing the proportions of a bathtub in its oval dial and rounded bezel, the watch was created by the French maison in the early 1900s, when Louis Cartier decided to take the traditional round watch and “stretch it out”. The design of the watch continued to evolve until the late 1950s when it settled to become the Baignoire we know today.

Several new models have been released over the years, notably in 2019 when a small model fitted with a leather strap became available, as well as the Baignoire Allongee, an extremely eye-catching version of the former, with an exaggeratedly stretched out dial and hour markers that give it a surrealist Dali-esque spin.

This story is from the July 2023 edition of ELLE Singapore.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July 2023 edition of ELLE Singapore.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM ELLE SINGAPOREView All
Colours Of Perfection
ELLE Singapore

Colours Of Perfection

FRANCK MULLER shows its Love for Asia Pacific with a new region-exclusive watch that’s dressed up in the decadence of a rainbow.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Japan Calling
ELLE Singapore

Japan Calling

Dive into Japan's perfect mix of tradition and modern flair, with dreamy hotels and restaurants that make for the ultimate quick escape.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
Walking The Walk
ELLE Singapore

Walking The Walk

MANOLO BLAHNIK remains one of the most covetable names in footwear. Now with more than five decades of history, the brand goes back to its beginnings to celebrate its most timeless silhouettes.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
What Dreams May Come
ELLE Singapore

What Dreams May Come

Life as an actress can be an emotional roller coaster. Crazy Rich Asians star CONSTANCE LAU shares the highs, the lows, and everything else in between.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Just A Hint
ELLE Singapore

Just A Hint

Conspicuously More Understated Than Their Gem-set Cousins, These Subtle Rainbow-coloured Watches Are No Less Defiant In Their Insistence On Optimism And Style.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
A cultural Conversation
ELLE Singapore

A cultural Conversation

With its Made of Makers programme, JAEGER-LECOULTRE has built a community of like-minded creatives who place innovation, craftsmanship and precision at the heart of all they do.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
The Inner Lives Of Clothes
ELLE Singapore

The Inner Lives Of Clothes

Compelling Fashion Doesn't Have To Be Ostentatious Or Overtly Conceptual, But It Does Need A Clear Identity And Character Of Its Own.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Journey to the WEST
ELLE Singapore

Journey to the WEST

Time to slip into some chaps and saddle up. Fashion's biggest brands are taking a turn at the rodeo.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
The Mai Effect
ELLE Singapore

The Mai Effect

Fresh off her cover shoot for ELLE Singapore-draped in head-turning Bvlgari jewels-Davika Hoorne radiates the charm and allure of a woman who's both wildly ambitious and perfectly content in her own skin. Here, the 32-year-old Thai-Belgian star reflects on two decades in the spotlight, and why she's not done dreaming just yet.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
in Conversation
ELLE Singapore

in Conversation

Cartier creative director MARIE-LAURE CÉRÈDE delves into the Maison’s haute joaillerie timepieces, while highlighting the importance of creativity and a happy team in her chat with CHARMAINE HO.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024