Every watch from every brand has a feature, design or history that makes it so interesting in the eyes of watch collectors and enthusiasts. For example, the Tudor Black Bay is known for having a lot of variations made from different materials, while the Rolex Submariner is often praised for being a simple yet functional watch. The Panthere de Cartier or commonly known as the Cartier Panthere, is no exception to this, as this is considered to be one of Cartier’s most popular timepieces.
As a luxury brand, Cartier is both versatile and elegant, as it does not only create timepieces like the Panthere de Cartier but also fine jewelry such as the Love Bracelet and the Panthere de Cartier ring. But the Cartier Panthere is unique because it has an interesting history and has two purposes at the same time as well. This article will further explain how this timepiece has become so popular.
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Watch That Could Also Function As Jewelry
Many luxury watches are known for either being tool watches packed with amazing features like time zone function or for simply being an accessory when getting dressed. But the Cartier Panthere became popular for being a jewelry watch. This means the Panthere de Cartier could function both as jewelry you could wear on your wrist like a bracelet and a tool to keep the time. After all, from the look of it, the Cartier Panthere was designed to function as a chronograph and an expensive piece of jewelry at the same time. This adds appeal especially to women who constantly worry about wearing a watch and wearing jewelry at the same time. But despite having a feminine allure, the Cartier Panthere watch also attracted the attention of men like Pierce Brosnan, who was seen wearing the watch on several occasions, especially in the 80s, when the popularity of the watch was at its peak.
While the Cartier Panthere was introduced and became famous in the 1980s, the roots of the watch go deeper with a woman named Jeanne Touissant. Touissant was a fashion icon in the 1920s and a partner of Cartier’s founder, Louis Cartier. Touissant was also known as “La Panthere” and her collaborations with Cartier thrust the brand into the fashion scene, as it introduced jewelry and watches bearing the panther design that Cartier is known for today. But the name “Panthere de Cartier” does not only bear in the brand’s beloved jewelry watch but also on its rings and bracelet, which were thought to be one of Cartier’s pieces of jewelry. Truly, Cartier’s partnership with “La Panthere” proved to be successful, as it helped the brand in leaving a mark in both the jewelry and the watchmaking industry.
Discontinuation and Revival
While the Cartier Panthere watch has become one of the most popular timepieces in the industry, there was a time when it had to take a rest. After the watch was introduced in the 1980s, it became an icon of elegance and fashion. As previously mentioned, it was worn by celebrities like Tina Turner and Pierce Brosnan, the latter wearing the timepiece in the television series “Remington Steele.” But while the watch was popular and well-received in the 80s, the watch was discontinued in 2004 and still received a cult following after this. The Cartier de Panthere continued to be a popular item often sold at auctions as well as vintage markets and celebrities such as Kourtney Kardashian were seen wearing the watch.
But perhaps Cartier realized the timelessness and undying popularity of the watch in the time when the watchmaking industry was suffering with excess timepieces and weak demand that the brand relaunched the Cartier Panthere in 2017. The reintroduction of the Cartier also became a statement to the industry that the brand will stay true to its jewelry-making origins when it was accused of trying too hard to woo male customers by introducing watches for men, something that other watch brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Tag Heuer have been doing for a long time. Cartier Panthere’s new releases remained faithful to the design of the original Cartier Panthere but the new watches are available in two sizes, namely the small Cartier Panthere in a 22mm case and the medium Cartier Panthere in 27mm. The prices for the newer versions of the Cartier Panthere vary from $4,000 for the small stainless steel version to $141,000 for the medium high-jewelry version.
Features and Variations of the Model
When you look at the design of the Cartier Panthere on the Internet, you could certainly tell that it has all the attributes of a jewelry and a watch. To start, the watch is made with precious materials such as stainless steel, white gold, 18-karat yellow gold, and a combination of both. The Cartier Panthere also has a small watch case and bracelet, making it a perfect accessory especially for women but also for men. But as mentioned earlier, the newer versions of the Cartier Panthere come in two sizes: 22mm for those who want a small watch case, and 27mm for those who don’t want it to be too small but not too big either. Cartier has also introduced newer versions to the Cartier Panthere line, which includes a rose gold version with a black lacquer finish as well as a white gold and diamond version with animal-like spots in black lacquer.
But the differences between the original and the new versions of the Cartier Panthere end there, as both versions have the same features, such as the small square-shaped watch case, square bezels showing exposed screws, and a bracelet with a brick-lay design. The original and new versions of the Cartier Panthere also run in quartz movement for enhanced precision and reliability, and the watches’ bracelet features five interlocking links that further add to its elegance and make the watch comfortable to wear.
Takeaway
The Cartier brand has become synonymous with sophistication and fashion not just in the jewelry but also in the watchmaking industry. The Panthere de Cartier is a watch that was not only loved by celebrities, but by an entire era. With its surprisingly simple yet elegant design, it has garnered the attention of watch collectors and users of all genders and its name really describes the timepiece. Like the panther, the Cartier Panthere is rare yet bold, and it channels these characteristics to the men and women who wear this timeless classic.
