THE ESSENTIALS OF TIME
As is the case at the beginning of each year for the SIHH, the Parisian company has presented a whole host of new timepieces, including an ultra-slim and elegant version of the Drive model.
Let’s be honest: despite campaigns strongly (not to say solely) aimed at men, Cartier’s Drive model is in fact a watch that would adorn a woman’s wrist as much as a man’s. As someone who wore one when it was first launched in 2016, and again this year for the Salon International de Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), I can confirm that the Drive is completely unisex. And I don’t exactly have a massive wrist.
For this 27th SIHH, Cartier has designed a slim, pure version of this piece, simply baptised Drive Extra-Flat. Its cushion-shaped case is 38mm by 39mm and under 7mm thick, and is available in white gold (limited to 200 pieces) or pink gold. The case contains the 430 MC calibre, a manual winding movement driving the hours and minutes, while providing a power reserve of about 40 hours.
On the silver dial with satin and sunburst finishes, the black minute track is displayed in the centre, where the two sword-shaped blue-tinted hands show the hours and minutes. They move across an hour marker featuring black Roman figures, in characteristic Cartier style. There’s no second hand – simply the essentials of time.
Price: 14,600 CHF (Rose Gold) and 15,700 CHF (White Gold)
By Sharmila Bertin