The Cartier Calibre Diver was one of the watches that accompanied me during my traditional summer holidays in Rome. A waterproof watch seems indeed essential  not to enjoy the beach at Ostia, but to take advantage of the fountains of the city! Rome has always been a city of water! In fact, I really appreciate this watch because I think it manages to retain a certain elegance despite its main function, to be a diver watch. The integration of  typical elements of the Cartier design like the Roman numerals, the sword hands or the crown set with a cabochon gives to this piece a rather original style, clearly different from competitive models in the same segment. Its case, barely thicker than the "classic" Calibre offers a quite slender diameter/height ratio taking into account its 42mm diameter.

However, there was one detail that I wanted to change before taking my flight to Italy: it was the strap. The black rubber strap from Cartier is ideally integrated into the design of the watch. No doubt about this. But I wanted something  more fun, more colorful. Unfortunately, the Cartier alternative offer is non existent what is a pity. The alternative is the black rubber strap or the metal bracelet. Period.  Rubber straps with other colors would allow the clients to play with their watches and to enjoy different combos. I still don't understand why the main watch brands don't realize that fun is a key part of the current customers' wishes. And I believe that there isn't any Cartier watch better than this Calibre Diver to play with straps because, due to its design and its purpose, it is a watch which can be worn with a very casual outfit.  Note that the Calibre Diver Blue (the first Cartier watch with a ceramic bezel) comes with a blue calfskin strap lined with rubber and that the same watch is only available in the US with a blue rubber strap. If you manage to understand the strategy around this choice, please contact because I don't!

Anyway, I removed the original bracelet from Cartier and replaced it with an orange rubber strap from  MATWATCHES. Unfortunately, if the distance between the lugs is the same (24mm), it is different for the buckle what obliged me to use a buckle which is not the Cartier one. Nothing serious.

The MATWATCHES bracelet has two virtues which I do appreciate a lot. It is flavored with vanilla what reminds me of Carlo Crocco period of Hublot! And the surface in contact with the skin is covered with all small spikes that allow the skin to breathe. The Cartier bracelet, which is smooth on this side makes me more sweat.

The Diver Caliber takes full advantage of this extra touch of color. The combination of black and orange works well and I must admit it's nice to see a Cartier watch, which is an eminently serious house, with a more casual and unconventional appearance. So I had a lot of fun wearing it during my wanderings in the streets of Rome and at the same time, I could appreciate the precise and reliable behaviour  of the movement 1904MC.

I therefore propose some pictures taken during my holidays to see the Calibre Diver in situation ... and in the right context for a diver watch!


The famous AS Roma scooter of Campo de Fiori!



Another symbol of Rome, the pizza from Da Beffetto!



Sunset on the Piazza di Pietra:



Testing the water resistance of the watch! The Fontana degli Artisti located via Margutta is one of my fav fountains in Rome.



I don't need to introduce this one! Of course, I made the two wishes by throwing a coin into the water before I left Rome.



In front of the Tritone!



From the Pincio Hill:



One of the ladies of Rome:



The Colosseum:



The Basilica of St John Lateran:



Street Art again!



The watch is even more beautiful when it catches the sunshine of Rome:



The spectacular scenery of Rome:



Another sunset on Piazza di Pietra:



A famous character in the Alberto Sordi Gallery:



From the Aventino Hill:



This guy is really in a bad position!



And the saddest pic... when I had to be back to the airport to take my flight to France!




When I wrote this article and while posting these pictures, I started to want to take the flight to Rome to be quickly back to the Eternal City... unfortunately I'll have to wait a full year! But it doesn't matter, the Calibre Diver will continuously remind me of these excellent memories even in the Parisian gloom.

Fr.Xavier
This message has been edited by foversta on 2016-08-16 14:20:49