OBJECT OF DESIRE

A LOT OF THOUGHT HAS GONE INTO CREATING CARTIER’S RECENTLY DEBUTED MAILLON DE CARTIER WATCH.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

A LOT OF THOUGHT HAS GONE INTO CREATING CARTIER’S RECENTLY DEBUTED MAILLON DE CARTIER WATCH. MAILLON IS FRENCH FOR “LINK”, REFERENCING THE DESIGN’S MOST STRIKING ASPECT: ITS INTRICATE CHAIN-LINK BRACELET. EACH LINK IS ALIGNED ON THE BIAS AT AN ANGLE OF 32 DEGREES – NOT AN EASY TASK WITH THE MAISON TAKING A YEAR TO FINE-TUNE THE ARRANGEMENT TO ENSURE FLEXIBILITY, COMFORT AND EASE OF WEAR. ADD HOW THE BRACELET FUSES SEAMLESSLY WITH THE TIMEPIECE’S DISTINCTIVE HEXAGONAL CASE AND WHAT YOU HAVE IS AN ARCHITECTURAL FEAT. 

My Reading Room

To create the Maillon de Cartier, a year’s worth of research went into experimenting with the angular structure of the bracelet’s links in order to maximise its articulation while retaining ease of use for the wearer. A whopping 35 iterations later, this is the final product: a spiralling, Art Deco-like architectural marvel made for evenings out (or in a la British actress Kaya Scodelario in this exclusive showcase).

My Reading Room

WHILE IT ADDS TO THE FRENCH MAISON’S OEUVRE OF REVOLUTIONARY WATCH SHAPES (THINK THE DALI-ESQUE CRASH OR MASCULINE SANTOS THAT REPORTEDLY GOT MEN SWOPPING THEIR POCKET WATCHES FOR WRISTWATCHES IN THE EARLY 1900S), THE MAILLON DOUBLES AS A PIECE OF STATEMENT JEWELLERY. AS ASSERTIVE AS IT IS FEMININE, IT COMES IN YELLOW, PINK OR WHITE GOLD WITH VARIOUS DIAMOND SETTINGS INCLUDING A LIMITED-EDITION VERSION WITH 580 BRILLIANT-CUT DIAMONDS TOTALLING 9.33 CARATS. GUESS YOU CAN SAY IT’S ONE PIECE IN WHICH CARTIER’S LEGACIES IN HOROLOGY AND JEWELLERY INTERTWINE.