This is the Cartier Cristallor 78096. For the many memorable shapes and sizes produced by the house of Cartier, some remain more recognizable and classic such as the Santos and Tank while others are esoteric and scarce such as the aforementioned Cristallor.

Quintessentially Cartier in form yet nothing like anything the brand has introduced in the past, the Cristallor was introduced in the mid 1970s by Cartier Paris. Characterized by the triple-stepped bezel and hidden lugs, the Cristallor likely draws inspiration from an elongated version of the Cartier Tank in its own unique form.

Large for its time, the “Jumbo” variant of the Cristallor has a 28 × 35mm case that remains relevant across eras. Produced only until the mid 1980s, the Cristallor remains one of the scarcer shapes produced by the maison with a estimated number of a few hundred across the white and yellow gold variants and remains among the lowest in production numbers within the famed Louis Cartier collection introduced in 1973.

When one speaks of Cartier, the allure draws from the unique and distinctive case shapes. As a jewellery powerhouse, it’s clear that their eye for design has carried over into their timepieces and rather than focusing on competing on watchmaking, the brand has carved a niche within a crowded space to differentiate itself aesthetically. Outrageously classy may sound like a paradox but for the house of Cartier, it has become the true definition of the brand.