


This movement, adorned with a Côtes de Genève pattern and endowed with fine adjustment as well as a stop-seconds device, was developed as what the industry refers to as as ‘tractor’ movement (a rugged reliable engine suitable for large-scale production at a reasonable price).

The ‘standard’ versions are thus already equipped with the Manufacture 1904 MC movement, the very first 100% in-house self-winding calibre presented by Cartier in 2010 and which ensures enhanced constancy of mainspring torque and thus improved precision via its twin barrels powered by a bidirectional rotor mounted on ceramic ball-bearings. The same goes for the ‘motorisation’ which – contrary to the Ronde Croisière de Cartier – can be admired through a sapphire crystal case-back. Aficionados had already encountered the Roadster and now the ‘dressier’ Drive de Cartier roars onto the scene at the SIHH with a built-in upscaling approach, since the steel version is already complemented by a model with a pink gold case. As its name implies, the model clearly references the world of motorsports and its thrilling races through nods including the guilloché dial pattern resembling a car radiator grille the domed shape of the sapphire crystal, the counter at 6 o’clock and the winding crown shaped like a bolt. There is definitely no point in looking for hidden meanings here. But while this Ronde Croisière de Cartier definitely fills a niche within the Cartier collections, just above the Ronde Solo models, the Maison has also opted to introduce another collection reflecting its tradition of ‘form’ (non-round) watches: the Drive de Cartier with a cushion-shaped case.
