Cartier Ballon Bleu XL Chronograph 44

Despite the fact that Cartier is more known as a jewelry brand (perhaps one of the leading ones, by the way), its contribution to the art of watchmaking is not small. The very fact that the brand's Santos model proudly bears the title of "the first men's wristwatch" is one of the facts confirming the reputation of the brand's watchmaking division. Most of the series are created based on an exceptional story, journey, or encounters with exceptional personalities. Undoubtedly, Cartier is best known for its rectangular watches – such a survey has hardly been done, but we are sure that if one were conducted with the question "What does a Cartier watch look like?", the most prevalent answer would be "That square one with the screws." And despite the fact that for the majority of the public Cartier is Tank and Santos, this by no means exhausts the models of this brand. The “Ballon Bleu Chronograph” presented here is a representative of a no less iconic series of the brand and with the design of its crown (as if cradled in a water balloon), it has the honor of carrying the Cartier DNA no less than the other series. The series was first launched in 2007 and is one of the "youngest" in Cartier's model line-up – despite the new design, unlike other models, it carries the brand's classic design - a dial with Roman numerals, a circular inner scale, sword-shaped hands, and a sapphire cabochon proudly crowning the crown. The historical heritage, the brand's reputation, and the unconventional design make the models of the series some of the most beloved by famous historical figures and contemporary "drivers of modern taste and fashion." The presented watch is from the current model range – the 44 mm version, it is offered in a steel case, crocodile strap, steel bracelet with a deployant clasp and the contemporary size 44 mm. The case back is transparent, and beneath it lies the Cartier Calibre 8101MC – an automatic chronograph, created for the brand by JLC, with 33 jewels, a 42-hour power reserve, operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour.