The Panthère is one of those watches that brings together different aspects of Cartier’s heritage, which all starts with Jeanne Toussaint. This elegant and powerful woman was Louis Cartier’s lover and would later serve as the brand’s head of design, a position she retained for decades.

It was Toussaint’s sense of style that made one of the most important marks on Cartier. She was fond of wildlife, in particular big cats, and her nickname was “La Panthère,” which came from her elegance and strong personality. Already in 1914, Cartier released its first watch highlighting the unique pattern of the panther’s fur, although this watch had very little to do with today’s Panthère in terms of visuals.

The modern Panthère finds its origin in a completely different part of Cartier’s history: that of the first pilot’s watch, the Santos-Dumont.

A decade before the first Panthère was launched, Louis Cartier made a wristwatch for his good friend Alberto Santos-Dumont. The aviation pioneer needed to know the time while flying and pocket watches caused much inconvenience in that matter. The first pilot’s watch was born, yet it was still a far cry from what we now consider a pilot’s watch to be. By today’s standards, the original Santos-Dumont is pure elegance.

In 1978 Cartier continued the legacy by launching a new Santos wristwatch, larger in size and with distinctive screws in both the bezel and bracelet. It became an icon in its own right, but the original lines of the Santos-Dumont from 1904 would live on in yet a different collection. It was the Panthère that adopted not only the bezel secured with pins but also the softer lines of the case.

Cartier Panthère UAE Limited Edition on the wrist

The luxurious look and feel of the Cartier Panthère UAE Edition

For this limited edition, the softer lines of the case and bezel screws remain the main attraction in combination with the Figaro bracelet. Although not exclusive to the Panthère, this bracelet style contributes significantly to the character of the watch. The links look robust yet retain a touch of elegance, while their refinement offers excellent wearing comfort. Particularly in pink gold, like this Panthère, the material offers a luxurious, silky feel that is hard to match.

Cartier Panthère UAE Limited Edition

For this limited edition, Cartier went even a step further by setting the bezel with 44 brilliant-cut rubies. These stones surrounding the distinctive bezel screws that are one of the hallmarks of the Panthère model add a generous dash of color and make this limited edition a true eye-catcher.

In comparison, the mother-of-pearl dial is much more inconspicuous. What from a distance may look like an ordinary, light-colored, though shimmering, surface indeed has the familiar panther pattern imprinted on it. This is an almost private treat that will particularly delight its owner.

Cartier Panthère UAE Limited Edition on the wrist

Cartier even changed the color of the font used on the dial to match the rest of the watch, creating a synergy in color in which the rubies have plenty of space to really stand out.

All of these lovely elements make this limited edition Panthère, which was created in honor of 50 years of the UAE, stand out against its peers, delivering elegance in a distinctly different way.

Quick Facts Panthère de Cartier UAE Edition
Case: pink gold, 27 x 37 x 6 mm; bezel set with 44 brilliant-cut rubies (0.35 ct), crown set with brilliant-cut diamond
Movement: quartz
Functions: hours, minutes
Limitation: 50 pieces

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