Lou Doillon, the daughter of Jane Birkin, is a versatile French artist and a prominent style icon. Known for her stylish elegance and charismatic free spirit, Doillon perfectly embodies the spirit of the Maison. The new design of the Baignoire watch showcases a reversed balance through a fresh proportion. The Baignoire has been scaled down and intensified in form. This year, the Baignoire watch is reintroduced with a miniature case, an enlarged rounded bracelet that seamlessly merges with the golden dial. The purity of lines, precision of shapes, and meticulous attention to proportion all harmoniously come together, transforming the watch into a piece of jewelry.

“Cartier has been a part of my family and myself for a long time, symbolizing love and special occasions. For my eighteenth birthday, my mother even gifted me a Cartier Baignoire watch. The elegance and finesse of the sapphire, the understated dial, and the timeless design greatly attract me to this creation.”

Lou Doillon

The history of the Baignoire watch takes you on a journey through Cartier’s iconic watchmaking style. After the square shape of the Santos watch in 1904 and the bold design of the Tortue in 1906, the Maison created a watch in 1912 with a rectangular case and rounded ends. The concept continued to evolve until 1958, with the introduction of a “curved oval” watch that perfectly fit the contours of the wrist. This watch would later be named ‘Baignoire’ in 1973. With distinctive details such as volume, domed crystal, Roman numeral dial, and a smooth gold bracelet, the icon has appeared in several variations. The new model is available in two different versions.

In the first version, the emblematic oval shape of the watch is transformed into a flexible bracelet that easily slides onto the wrist. The second version celebrates pure elegance with a ‘Less is More’ approach. It features delicate proportions and a yellow gold shine of the bezel, contrasting with a black lacquer or fully gold bracelet. The new look and feel are available in rose, yellow, or white gold. The diamond-set version retains the same curved case, fitting as closely as possible to the wrist.

“Cartier was a jeweler before it was a watchmaker, often blurring the boundaries between these two fundamental crafts to combine the best of both. This combination has resulted in the sleek and refined design of the mini Baignoire. The combination of a bracelet with clean lines and a miniature dial without excessive embellishments aesthetically references Cartier’s heritage and adds a sublime touch, transforming the mini Baignoire into a true piece of jewelry.”

Marie-Laure Cérède, Creative Director of Jewelry and Watches