Obviously a blue-chip value for indeed destined to be the eternal object of all masculine devotions : woman. And love, as they say, has no price. So jewellery is and always has been the finest tribute paid to women. Watches are part of this, indeed initially treated more as jewellery than as a device for telling the time, with case and dial often incorporated into a richly ornamented bracelet : watch and mechanism were but accessories, the important part was the decor, its design and precious ornamentation. The so-called secret watch well illustrates this old trend, the dial hidden under a cover you open when you want to know the time. The secret watch, like the manchette watch, is an ever popular classic that watchmakers still enjoy reinterpreting. But the style of women's watches has moved on. First watchmakers sought to liven themup : interchangeable straps then precious stones and moving decors imbued jewellery watches with a fun fantasy that classic bracelet watches lacked. Decors also became bolder, with the most daring motifs making their appearance on cases and dials : flowers, animals, insects, plants, stars etc. Designers'imaginations know no limits, the only conditions being that quality is paramount and design must incite the emotional thrills that seduce a female market whose tastes change constantly. Charming mechanics Chaumet Attrape-moi si tu m ? aimes. A further notable evolution is that styling started borrowing from shapes traditionally reserved for men. Since women tended to pinch their other halves'watches, the watchmakers cameup with feminine/masculine watches for them. Ladies'chronographs then diving watches appeared, given precious decors ; these charming sports timepieces are more popular than ever. And for women they opened the door to a new world of mechanical movements and complications, a trend that has now spread from the sports world through the entire gamut of timewear. Feminine watches are now driven by increasingly sophisticated movements ; leading watch brands use auto-matic mechanical movements and Haute Horlogerie's feminisation continues via top-flight complications. Calendar, moon phases, second time zone, tourbillon and CARTIER UNE NOUVELLE MONTRE BAIGNOIRE/A NEW BAIGNOIRE Ce modèle emblématique est proposé dans une version entièrement relookée. -/This emblematic model now comes in a totally redesigned version. Comme la Tank, la Panthère, la Santos et la Pasha, la Baignoire est une icône de Cartier. Idéalement galbée, elle propose, dès 1912, date de sa création, des formes ergonomiques qui épousent harmonieusement le poignet féminin. Proposée en 1968 en version allongée ou démesurée, elle n’est baptisée Baignoire qu’en 1973. Sa longévité, son élégance sans pareille lui ouvrent toutes grandes les portes du Panthéon des montres pour femmes. Cartier la réédite en conservant l’esprit de ce modèle irremplaçable, complice naturel de tous les instants de la vie d’une femme, à la ville comme le soir. Le style a été urbanisé, rendu plus contemporain, plus efficace et dynamique. Au bombé du boîtier originel, on a ainsi substitué « l’éclat facetté de pans coupés et le galbe précieux d’un verre ciselé ». Les grands codes de la Maison ont été pareillement remixés : rectitude des chiffres romains, lignes de fuites, chemin de fer en pointillé. Cette nouvelle version est déclinée en différents modèles. Petit modèle sur cuir ou satin pour un esprit qui se veut « rive gauche et délicat » ou bien grand modèle « rive droite, charismatique et sophistiqué », elle est aussi proposée dans de luxueuses versions du soir tout or et tout diamants. -/Just like the Tank, Panther, Santos and Pasha, the Baignoire is a Cartier icon. Since it was created in 1912 this superbly contoured watch has offered ergonomic forms that clasp the female wrist harmoniously, including lengthened and oversized versions in 1968. Christened Baignoire only in 1973, its lasting attraction and unparalleled elegance have easily instated it in the pantheon of feminine timepieces. Cartier has now re-edited it, still conserving the spirit of this irreplaceable model, a natural partner in every moment of a woman's life, day and night. The style has been urbanised, made more contemporary, efficacious and dynamic. The case's original doming has been replaced by "the facetted radiance of cut segments and the precious contouring of chased glass". The house's signature codes have been similarly remixed : straight Roman numerals, vanishing lines, hour circle of dots. This new version comes in several models : small on leather or satin for "delicate Left Bank ladies", large for those who are "charismatic, sophisticated and Right Bank" plus luxurious all-gold, all-diamonds evening versions. Cartier Baignoire. WATCHES SPECIAL MONTRES 79