Cartier Ellipse Yellow gold set with diamonds quartz 26 mm

The story

The Maison Cartier needs no introduction when it comes to designing innovative wristwatches. The brand of course created the first mass-produced wristwatch in 1911 with the Santos-Dumont and, shortly after, the Tank. Unafraid to push the boundaries, the Maison continues to demonstrate the same sense of innovation and creativity when it comes to designing the case shapes of its watches over the decades. Models like the Tortue, the Cabriolet, the Cintrée and the Crash stand out as having few comparables in other brands.

In 1973, the Louis Cartier collection was announced by Cartier Paris as a complete overhaul of the Maison's wristwatch offering. Drawing inspiration from models of the past, this collection revisited 70s classics such as the Tank and Santos Dumont, while introducing new names and models into series production, such as the Gondole, Cristallor and, of course, the Ellipse. Often confused with the Gondole or Vendôme, the Ellipse is an unusual member of the Louis Cartier collection. Horizontal in shape, the watch may seem a little small by modern standards, but, it's absolutely perfect...

The model

This particularly rare Ellipse in this configuration features a magnificent yellow gold case set entirely on the entire bezel and a diamond cabochon winding crown. In addition, this model comes with a yellow gold bracelet also set with diamonds and two sapphires. The originality of this bracelet comes from its "wave" articulation, making this watch a real jewel.

From our side, we particularly appreciate this model, as it features all the fundamental characteristics of Cartier design: a white dial with black Roman numerals and chemin de fer, blued hands and a cabochon crown, underlining its position of "the jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers".

The dial has acquired a slight patina over time, almost eggshell-like depending on the light reflections. The Roman numerals are stamped directly onto the dial in black ink, while the blued steel hands are executed in the shape of swords, the true DNA of Cartier watches. Of course, the secret signature hidden in the X numeral can also be found.

Finally, this Cartier is powered by a quartz caliber. The elegance of this two-hand version here is a sure bet for anyone looking for a yellow gold jewellery watch from one of the greatest Maisons.

The package

This superb piece has been authenticated by our experts and checked by our watchmakers. As such, it benefits from the Lepage Vintage 1-year warranty. What's more, this model has just left our workshops for maintenance and polishing! This Tank Louis Cartier will be delivered in a Cartier service pouch.