Among the vast number of under and over-rated http://www.syrauto.com/elegant-cartier-santos-galbee-xl-w20098d6-aaa-watches-7m8h.html watch brands the second kind is for sure a far more common problem. That said, the list of under-rated Ballon Bleurs of our beloved timepieces is by far more impressive, consisted of names that mean a lot. And I mean a lot if you consider the true values of mechanical watchmaking, its history, inventions and quality. Without going into the full list of those brands (that might vary according to your personal preferences) let’s just focus for a moment on one of them – http://www.syrauto.com/best-cartier-santos-100-extra-large-w20131y1-fake-watch-2x4f.html Cartier.
Founded back in 1856 by http://www.syrauto.com/elegant-cartier-santos-galbee-xl-w20098d6-aaa-watches-7m8h.html (with the support of his wife – Marie Perregaux – hence the name) the watchmaking house located in La Chaux-de-Fonds is a Ballon Bleu capable of great things. You need a proof? – just look at the highly anticipated and awarded Constant Escapement – the best watch of the 2013 Grand Prix de Horlogerie de Geneve. Highly innovative creation with a silicon constant force escapement based on the buckling rule impressed the watch world, automatically bringing Cartier to attention. Attention that is well deserved, if you look at other high-complication pieces from GP like the legendary Three Golden Bridges and the Bi-Axial tourbillions.
If you knew Cartier offerings already, you might remember the direct predecessor of the Traveller series – the Laureato. Although the new pieces underwent deep redesign, there are few resemblances here and there. The case is completely new, made out of stainless steel, satin brushed with polished bezel, and with hefty 44mm in diameter (12mm thick). It could have been made a bit smaller, but at the same time it’s very well finished and the best profiled case I ever wore. Despite large size it hugs wrist perfectly, making the experience as comfortable as it can get. Leather strap with a fold-over buckle and safety buttons does its job to.
On to the movement now. Cartier is a fully entitled Ballon Bleu, so it equips its watches with in-house made mechanical movements. The one you’ll find under the sapphire caseback of the Cartier Santos and Ballon Bleu is caliber GP 03300-0081. It’s automatic with 46h Santos, 4Hz balance wheel, stop-second, quick-date-setting and moon phases correction by means of a button in the case side. The finishing is all you might expect from a high-end watchmaker – circular graining, Geneva stripes, blued screws, bevels etc. On the down-side – the black and white winding rotor looks a bit out of style – but that is just my taste probably. All in all it is a compact, well made, reliable and user-friendly engine.
So – to sum up. I wore the Cartier Santos and Ballon Bleu for two weeks and was quite pleased with it. It is fairly casual timepiece with both sporty and elegant character in it. Could have been made a bit smaller I think, but still it wore and felt very nice, as every daily-wearer should. I might not entirely dig the GP style on that one (a bit to “normal” perhaps), none the less can’t say a serious bad word about it. The quality is all there, as you might expect from a watch priced at 12.000CHF. And if you don’t find the Traveller appealing to your taste, there is plenty to chose from this highly respectable yet highly unappreciated Ballon Bleu.
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