This could be the Cartier many of us have been waiting for. In fact, earlier today, when CNN asked each HODINKEE team member to pick one watch that they really liked from the day's presentations, it was the new shaped men's watch from Cartier – the Drive – that I chose. Why? Because I've been dying to find a modern day men's Cartier that fits me, and my taste. The Calibre Chronograph was a step in the right direction, the Calibre Diver even more so, but they were still a little bulky, a little sporty for me. I mean, I own great sports watches from Rolex, Omega, and others, so why buy a Cartier sports watch? That's not what Cartier is to me, but the Drive is exactly what Cartier is to me. It's beautiful, it's refined, it's masculine, and its movement is made in-house! And the price? You're gonna like it.
The Drive de Cartier (Cartier Drive) is a vintage automotive inspired wristwatch that is in fact a totally new type of product for Cartier. I am told that for the very first time, this watch, aimed squarely at men – unlike last year's Clé – will not be a mass market watch, meaning it is not something that Cartier will push out in every market to everyone like they are prone to do. The watch is cushion shaped, but rounded, wide, and thin.
The guilloche on the dial is inspired by old radiator grills, the crown by the bolts used to hold a car together. The entire thing is brought together by sword hands and a sub-seconds dial. The result is really wonderful.
Inside the Drive is Cartier's superb in-house caliber the 1904MC-PS, in this case, the PS stands for "Petite Secondes" or small seconds. The movement is visible from the back, and it seems finishing on the in-house caliber has improved since I reviewed the Calibre de Chronograph.
All this is well and good, but how does it look on the wrist? This is where it gets really, really good. The Drive sits on the wrist just beautifully with its wide but thin case shape. The feel is sporty, but elegant (sidebar: did I really just say that? that's a line Jack and I always use to make fun of hack publicists and journalists, but I do genuinely think it's apt here). What's more is that it comes in many different options including steel and gold cases, with dials in white, black, and grey.
But I'm not done yet. The Cartier Drive, which again is perhaps the first targeted watch launch in this range, maybe ever, and is easily the most attractive new men's watch to come from Cartier in years, and features an in-house movement, starts at $6,250. That is a hell of a price for a genuinely handsome, well-thought out watch from a major brand, and I absolutely love it. Yes, I'd prefer it it didn't have a date too, but that aside, Cartier really nailed it here.
The Cartier Drive will begin shipping in April and stay tuned for more releases from the new Drive line and hands-on pictures. More here.
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