Cartier Baignoire Allongée - 2673 - White gold

Origin 

The first 20 years of the 20th century saw watchmaking cement itself at Cartier. Although it would have to wait another 60 for commercial takeover, almost all of its mainstream successes that are coveted today arrived during those first few decades. The Tank was born in 1917, the Santos from 1904, and the Baignoire dates back to 1912 despite the formal use of its name first appearing in the 1970s. Let us explain as before the name 'Baignoire' (which translates from French as 'bathtub'), Cartier referred to the rounded watch as an 'Oval shaped wrist watch', with the first example of this Louis Cartier creation being a gift for the Grand Duchess of Russia. The oval form and curvature of the watch rose in popularity first thanks to the swinging sixties and Cartier's London location, known as the most creatively expressive arms of La Maison. They brought us the Crash, the Pebble, and innovated on the Baignoire by stretching the watch tremendously to birth the Baignoire Allongée. Cartier, the king of variation and shape, diversified the Baignoire further with the Maxi Oval (taller like the Allongée but also broader), as well as the Baignoire Oblique, which saw the orientation of the watch shift to the right – think Tank Asymetrique.

Few examples of the Allongée were produced at this time, and while the 'Oval shaped watch' naming convention was still in place, by 1973, the use of 'Baignoire' became the norm. But the 1970s marked a troubling time for mechanical watches with the storming arrival of quartz-powered timekeeping. Thus, the production of the Baignoire slowed significantly pending the watch-collecting boom of the 1990s. During this decade and into the turn of the century, Cartier re-introduced the Allongée via faithful creations resembling early designs, each fitted with mechanical movements, cased in precious metals, and in wonderful proportions. Remember, the 1990s is also when the CPCP (Collection Privé Cartier Paris) was born, a division of Cartier dedicated to the most noteworthy of La Maison creations, so it is fair to consider this generation of traditional production to be very much CPCP adjacent. 

Various faithful references were born before the Allongée became the avant-garde modern gem-set reference it is today. For Cartier collectors, the golden era of Allongée ownership dates back to that traditional honouring 1990s—2000s era. 

The Watch 

"The question is not what you look at, but what you see"—Henry David Thoreau. This quote comes to mind when learning that, despite its romantic-sounding name, Baignoire Allongée translates to 'Elongated Bathtub'. 

While it remains unconfirmed if Cartier employees walked into their bathrooms and were hit by a wave of inspiration, this watch is clearly one of many instances of daring boundary-pushing by the master of shapes.

This 18ct white gold piece is reference 2673, epitomising the best of all Cartier worlds. Dating from 2003, this era of Baignoire Allongée was only produced for a limited time and predominantly in yellow gold, with some pink gold and very few white gold examples, a decision that follows La Maison's historical penchant for reserving white gold for the rarest and most exclusive timepieces. 

The case is like no other, as the original Allongée's concept was to stretch and elongate the petite form of the standard oval Baignoire. The result is a narrow footprint with an expansive rounded exterior that covers the entire wrist, simultaneously incorporating a hugging downward curve. This level of bold consideration creates an immensely striking piece externally, with a domed & curved crystal matching the shape created by the case and a beaded cabochon-tipped crown at three. Crucially, the lugs of the Allongée are hidden, which plays a significant role in its unique 'watch head only' appearance.

Cartier's design language is one of only a few manufacturers that remain recognisable in a near endless amount of executions, with perhaps the single most conspicuous being the black Roman numerals. For the Allongée, their appearance is pronounced further by their stretched perspective that fills the expanse of the dial beautifully. The stretching most notably impacts the twelve and six Roman numerals, as a subsequent impact is a repetition of the oval shape in the open space centre of the dial.  Complementing the striking nature of the Roman numerals we've regularly referenced is the unbroken guilloché dial. The watch is complete with blued épée hands and a straightforward 'Cartier' only signature.

With a modern construction while maintaining the essence of traditional Cartier charm, this extreme-shaped Baignoire, made in the rarest of metals for the brand's production, truly symbolises the magic and romance of Cartier watchmaking.

The Movement

The 8970 MC calibre powers this Cartier Baignoire Allongée 2673. This movement has been used in many important Cartier models, such as various expressions of the Crash, Tortue, and gem-set pieces. 

How It Wears

22mm by 47mm isn't a set of dimensions we often hear. You might even think it's a typo, but it's certainly not, as this unique height and width translates on the wrist for the Allongée. And here's the thing: despite the case width of this Baignoire Allongée being that of many watch straps, the piece is remarkable on a plethora of wrist sizes.

Condition

This 2673 is presented in unworn condition, having undergone a full service. It includes the Cartier box and original white gold Cartier pin buckle, and it's fitted to a Mr Watchley Grey Alcantara strap.

If you desire to take a closer look at this precious timepiece, don't hesitate to contact us and make an appointment. We are based in Ghent, Belgium

Reference	2673
Movement	Manual Wound
Caliber	Calibre 8970MC
Dial	Silver guilloché
Size (Case)	22 mm x 47 mm
Material (Case)	White gold
Strap	Custom Mr WATCHLEY strap
Buckle	Cartier white gold pin buckle
Condition	Excellent
Year	2003
Papers	-
Box	Yes
Warranty	2 years