It’s a trend that I welcome gladly, and one that has been a long time coming to the mainstream, when watch brands offer their own vintage pieces for sale. With the care, service and guarantee that only the original manufacturer or in some cases, modern caretaker, can provide, it’s a great thing.
Cartier has been doing this since 2019, starting in their flagship boutiques in London, and then in Paris in 2020. 2021 sees the addition of Singapore to that list, with the ION Mall in Orchard Road being the third country flagship store to offer pre-owned Cartier pieces for the 1970’s to the 2010’s under the “Cartier Vintage” collection.
“Pre-owned” used to be a dirty word among watch brands, but as more time and history accrues, people begin to realize that a brand’s strength comes from its past and so it has to be honoured and recognized properly.
So how does Cartier source these watches?
Well, a specialised group of experts within the Image, Style & Patrimony department works with trusted partners to locate these watches from around the world. After they are authenticated, they are then refurbished, restored, serviced, and offered for sale with, get this, an 8 year warranty.
The first Cartier Vintage assortment to come to Singapore is made up of a total of six pieces ranging from Tank, Tonneau to Tortue. As of today, all of the watches have already been sold and that comes from the quality and uniqueness of the watches.
Have a look at the watches below, and maybe you can consider the next batch of Cartier Vintage pieces when they are offered again in Singapore.
Square curved watch, large model, hand-wound mechanical movement, yellow gold, leather (1976) Movement: ETA 078, Characteristic: Manual winding, Dimensions: 17.5mm by 2.9mm
Power reserve: 38 hours, Frequency: 21,600 alt./hour, Number of jewels: 17
Tank à Vis watch, large model, hand-wound mechanical movement, yellow gold, leather (2002) Movement: 9901 MC, Characteristic: Manual winding, Dimensions: 26mm by 20.3mm Power reserve: 38 hours Frequency: 21,600 alt./hour Number of jewels: 18
Tortue watch, large model, hand-wound mechanical movement, yellow gold, leather (2003) Movement: 9401 MC, Characteristic: Manual winding, Power reserve: 42 hours, Frequency: 21,600 alt./hour Number of jewels: 34
Tonneau watch, extra-large model, hand-wound mechanical movement, pink gold, leather (2005), Movement: 9770 MC Characteristic: Manual winding Dimensions: 15.33mm by 2.9mm Power reserve: 38 hours Frequency: 21,600 alt./hour Number of jewels: 18
Pasha de Cartier golf watch, 38 mm, manufacture mechanical movement with automatic winding, yellow gold, leather (1993),Movement: 889 Jaeger, Characteristic: Automatic winding
Dimensions: 26mm by 4.1mm Power reserve: 40 hours Frequency: 19,800 alt./hour Number of jewels: 34