In 2010, Cartier released a brand new edition of men’s watches –  the Calibre. It was rather revolutionary for the brand for a couple of reasons, bringing Cartier’s men’s collection into the 21st Century. It was also a mass produced watch that contained an in-house made Cartier movement – something that previously only existed in their most high-end pieces( for the Calibre, I think the price is still expensive).

Calibre is handsome, the right size, and possess very much what a modern guy wanted in a replica Cartier. Sure models like the Santos and Roadster would always be popular, but I think Cartier needed something with a little sport in it as well as pizzazz. Since 2010 Cartier has trickled out variations on the original design by adding a bracelet option in 2011, and for 2012 there is a chronograph. For a full hands-on review on the original Cartier watch (on the bracelet) see this article.

It wasn’t difficult to predict that Cartier would make the Calibre as a new edition. In fact, the Calibre case is used in many of their much higher-end pieces as well. Though those models are distinct from the basic replica Calibre models because they target vastly different price demographics. This relica Cartier Calibre Chronograph is the second version of the “mainstream luxury” Calibre watch collection. The case design is unchanged from the original save for the addition of the chronograph pushers.

Cartier put chronograph pushers into the extended crown structure, which look extremely elegant. In fact, if you look at the three-hand version of the Calibre you’ll notice that area which now contains the chronograph pushers appears as though it was designed from the beginning with a plan that pushers would eventually be there. In 2012, a replica Calibre Chronograph is available in a 42mm wide steel or 18k gold plated case – and a bracelet or strap option is available from the outset.

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I was expecting from Cartier for 2014 is a diving watch, which is how the peculiar “desire engine” of the watch industry works. The Cartier Calibre Diver here back before we got a hands-on look at it at the SIHH 2014 watch show. The Calibre has been one of our favorite men’s pieces and we’ve known that it was to serve as a foundation for a range of Caritier replica models. While I sort of expected that 2014 was going to bring us a replica Calibre GMT, it insteadly gave us a diving version of the original. To be honest not that much is different from the standard three-hand Cartier compared to the Diver. Sure the diver has a rotating diver’s bezel and a slightly bolder dial, but aside from the rubber strap and deeper water resistance is the same classy men’s watch I’ve come to really enjoy.

Many people may already like the Calibre Diver without our introduction. What I want to do is explain the watch to guys who typically like dive watches but not Cartier – at least a sporty Cartier. Honestly, if you are a typical dive watch guy there is a lot to find appealing here if you want to ignore that you suddenly have a status watch on your wrist when wanting to be active. First of all, this is among the thinnest 300 meters dive watches out there being 11mm thick. This isn’t “ultra-thin,” but is certainly not thick for a diving watch. It is also just over 1mm thicker than the standard Calibre model. Overall I feel that “thickness conscious” watch lovers should have nothing to complain about.

As a “real diving tool”, the replica Calibre Diver got ISO 6425 certified and pressure tested in water before leaving the factory. Much of the watch is standard Calibre which is a good thing. The 42mm diameter case is a great size that wears large but is really reasonable in its dimensions. For my wrist at least it wears wonderfully, wrapping around my wrist with those curved lugs. It is honestly incredibly comfortable.

Most of the Calibre Diver case is brushed, but there are fine polished elements along the edges of the lugs and other areas. Cartier typically is very keen on ensuring the finishing is something they focus on in their very high to mid-range luxury watches such as the diver. There are few watchmakers out there that offer a replica dive watch.

 

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The Rotonde de Cartier Earth and Moon watch is the fruit of a technical and creative ambition that for Cartier consists of bringing together two complications in a daring display. A tourbillon has been incorporated into a moon phase complication, each depending on the other. It’s the newest triple complication watch, made its global debut at Feb at the Salon Internationale de Haute Horlogerie.

An innovative blend of complications
The moon-phase mechanism of the Rotonde de Cartier Earth and Moon watch is founded on a creative and complex design that combines a tourbillon, moon phase on demand and a second time zone.

The watch’s vibrant lapis lazuli dial is overlaid with roman numerals in chamfered white gold, lending a three-dimensional appearance that has become a hallmark of Cartier’s fine watches. The first of the watch’s three complications, a 24-hour disk that can track a second time zone, is found at the top of the dial and can be set via a pusher positioned at 2 o’clock on the titanium case. Located just below the disk is the watch’s second complication, a tourbillon visible through an aperture in the dial. The third complication (and the watch’s namesake), a moon-phase indicator, is unapparent until the wearer engages the pusher at 4 o’clock. A small disk then swings down and partially obscures the tourbillon. The section of the mechanism that remains visible indicates the portion of the moon that can currently be seen in the sky. A sapphire crystal on the back of the case allows observation of the movement, which features semi-skeletonized bridges arranged in the shape of a star.

Technique and the creativity make this watch one of the exceptional pieces in the Cartier collection and beyond, whilst design and execution this watch turn into a very desirable and hard to resist timepiece. However the choice of platinum for the 47mm case, makes it also a watch that’s very present on the wrist, but for anyone interested in high watch making, this is one of those collectors watches, that are seldom presented.

In addition to the standard Rotonde de Cartier Earth and Moon, which is priced at $271,000 and limited to just 50 examples, replica Cartier will create many pieces  to meet the high market demanding.

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At Basel World (2008) in April. I fell in Laco watches, and this one seemed particularly attractive.

Laco isn’t always known for their individuality, but they take classic aviation and diving watches, and place a polished, clean rendition of their own on them. Actually they have been making pilot watches in that particular style before it was considered a “vintage” look. This particular model is essentially a Teutonic clone of the also new Cartier Pasha Seatimer. If I know Laco, then this new watch will sport an automatic Swiss movement , and be reasonably priced.

That is of course unlike the Cartier, which is extremely over charged, which you pay a lot for the name. However, replica Cartier watches are really shiny. Admittedly, the Cartier pictured has a bit more “character” than the Laco, but that is to be expected. Suppose these watches were on a ship for the crew. The captain would adorn the Cartier, while the officers would have the Laco. Both equally functional, but the Laco more service orientated than fashion forward.

What makes these watches unique is the arrangement of the square minute hash marks in the middle of the watch, but being in a round case. This is often the opposite, as you have a round minutes indicator in a square case. Nonetheless, it is quite a classy look, which exprerienced a long history. The rotating bezel signifies the connection with diving, along with the rubber diver’s strap on the Laco. Further, I would have liked to see the date window placed in the diagonal position, as in the replica Cartier, which would have made spare for a number “3.”

Our replica Laco has good quality cases too, and I am sure most people will choose rubber strap, and there are clearly many more attractive option available. I am actually happy to see that replica Laco did not copy the gimmicky crown protector on the Cartier that connected to the case. This is a vestige of classic dive watches replica  that needed this extra protection for water resistance mostly. The numbering on replica Cartier is more tasteful, but that does not mean that the Laco is lacking of stock.

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To some defree, the French watch brand Cartier is thought to be more as a fine jewelry producer than as a watchmaker. However, the brand has a long history as a creator of fine timepieces coupled with a unique style which makes it hard to ignore…

The original Cartier Santos was designed and created by Louis Cartier himself in 1904 for his friend and pioneer, Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont. The Santos has been a major piece in the Cartier collection for a long time and in 2004 Cartier released their Santos 100 line which included larger Santos models.

The replica Santos line has many variations, however, they are all styled like the original. This includes a square case that is slightly curved on both sides which makes it fit effortlessly on the wrist. The dial has the signature Cartier Roman numerals, including the incorrect IIII at four o’clock – this allows the markers on the right to better symmetrically match the ones on the left.

The replica Santos 100 reference W2020009 (size large) case is in rose-gold and amorphous diamond-like carbon and offers the vintage design with rose-gold inserted markers on a black dial. The rose-gold sword-shaped hours and minutes hands join a hair-thin, rose-gold seconds hand for an elegant look. The hours and minutes hands include a small layer of SuperLumiNova coating which makes the watch readable in dark once light charged.

The simple yet stylish square dial design is matched with a protected heptagonal crown in rose-gold with a faceted black sapphire gem cabochon. Turning the crown clockwise winds the watch and when pulled allows the hours and minutes hands to change with a hacking seconds feature, thereby allowing the time to be precisely set. These are all basic features of the base Swiss ETA movement.

One of my favorite parts of this watch is the strap. The Cartier “toile de voile” strap is made of a thick black nylon with a leather doubling interior. While the complete watch stands at just under 140 grams, Cartier’s choice of a nylon strap results in a very comfortable and easy to wear timepiece.

The strap can easily be adjusted by pulling the extra nylon strap and folding it on the inside of the formed bracelet. After adjusting it a couple of times, I wore it once for a long trip, and I hardly remember it was on my wrist the whole day.

 

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