It is a nice tradition: twice per year, Cartier organizes the "rendez-vous", a kind of big exhibition which gathers the full scope of novelties, from jewelry to watchmaking without forgetting the leather goods and other accessories. The interest of this event which takes place during the day (I'm not talking about a cocktail party) is to create a specific atmosphere, a mise en scène in order to present these novelties with fun and with a common thread. The "rendez-vous" is usually organized in a hotel in Paris during the Fashion Weeks to take advantage of the presence of a lot of journalists and bloggers from any place in the world. And why in a hotel? Just to be sure to have a surface large enough to display all these novelties and to play with the different rooms...
Once again, this event was successful even if it was not as spectacular than the one organized at the Hotel Montana one year ago. But I was very happy to browse the sections of the exhibition, to discover some pieces I couldn't see a few weeks ago (since I missed the SIHH) and obviously to meet the friends at Cartier.
Let's discover the pictures which were taken at the Hotel de Pourtales... known because it is the place where Kim Kardashian was robbed a few months ago... but this time, I propose you a much more positive reason to publish these shots!
The superb main room of the suite of the Hotel in which the event was organized... and this time, as you can feel it, Cartier took the decision to create a very musical atmosphere... or better said a glam rock one! Drums, piano, guitars, bass guitar, we were also ready to start a jam session! Oh yes... but let's focus on my objective: to take pictures of the watches.
The large table on the back on the room was dedicated to the Cactus jewelry collection which is expanding with smaller and more affordable items. I have to confess that I have a soft spot for this collection which is original and appealing.
The representatives of the watchmaking offer were the new Drive pieces (moonphase and extra flat) and the Panthère collection which was reintroduced this year.
The Drive Moonphase is a very good surprise. The main objective of this additional complication is to bring a different graphic approach to the dial. The design of the watch is balanced and the moonphase display perfectly matches the Drive case. I can only say thanks to Cartier for having resisted against the temptation to add a date display... I can't believe it. This is a watch with a moonphase display without any date window... and it is much better this way! This watch is high on my wish list and clearly replaces the automatic with date version in my heart.
Another good surprise (even if it is not a real surprise) is that the watch is also available in stainless steel. It has everything to become a hit.
The watches boxes were displayed on a low table:
And supermodels were playing with Cartier accessories. Let me introduce you Anaïs from Belgium and her lovely Juste un Clou bracelet!
Juste un Clou for her and Drive for him!
The male model was nice but I think that I have a stronger presence on the screen especially when I'm with Anaïs!
The Drive Extra-Flat is for me one of the hits of the SIHH 2017. It is refined and elegant with a subtle touch of originality due to its case shape. I don't know why but in my mind this watch was designed to be powered by a handwind movement like any true dandy's watch!
The WG version is released in a context of a LE of 200 pieces. Its sober style enhanced by the gorgeous grey strap makes it very seducing.
But... I'm a pink gold guy and I do believe that the best version is in this material. Its warmer touch and the higher contrast between the dial and the case highlight the originality of the case shape. I also love the shape of the glass with a less pronounced pebble effect.
The question is to know is the dial is not a bit too quiet due to the absence of a second hand. I don't think so, I could appreciate the shades of lights it creates.
The Drive Extra-Flat, due to its smaller case size, is also perfect on a lady's wrist... and you can see it on my friend Macha's wrist. Pure elegance and style on ladies' or men's wrists... I'm pretty sure that this piece will be very successful. The question mark I have about the ladies is the handwind movement (the 430MC). But since there is no date, no additional complication, it only takes a few second to wind the watch and to set the time.
At first glance, the small room on the first floor was a bit messy... well, Cartier created a perfectly organized mess to present several beautiful accessories like a new "nuts" bracelet. I found it fun, playful and very nice.
Ready for the make-up!
I told you it was a glam rock atmosphere!
The new Panthère watches were displayed on the drums and on the piano. They are ladies' watches only for the time being but this strategy is consistent with what Cyrille Vigneron said: Cartier has to reinforce its focus on ladies' items. And this collection is a proof of this ambition.
The last pic is a kind of symbol. Two pink gold watches, two Richemont brands, a watch for her, a watch for him. We could have swapped them... and we would have got the same feeling from the picture. When a watch is well designed, with an appropriate size, it can fit any wrist and the frontier between men's and ladies' watches tend to disappear... food for thought!
I will come back later to the Drive Extra-Flat.
I would like to thank a lot the Cartier team for the perfect organization of the event and the invitation.
Fr.Xavier