Some time ago, we reported how the Calibre de Cartier Diver was nearing the date of its expected release, but due to the excitement of Baselworld 2014 and the introduction of our new watch collections we have not featured this important timepiece since that date. It’s therefore high time to rectify this situation, as now the Cartier Diver has not only been released into the horological world, but we’re also pleased to say that it is on sale at Banks Lyon.
As we mentioned last time, the significance of the Diver cannot be overstated, as, alone among the hugely impressive portfolio of Cartier watches in circulation, the Diver is the only true ‘diving’ timepiece. That’s not to say that Cartier have never produced water resistant wristwatches before, because they most assuredly have done, but this is the only one to fully meet the ISO 6425 international watch standard for diving instruments.
With that in mind, you would be entirely justified in expecting that this wristwatch will be totally optimised for use beneath the waves, and that expectation would certainly be met with aplomb by the Calibre de Cartier Diver. The dial utilises thermo-luminescent 
detailing to ensure that it remains visible even when light levels are low, the case is rigorously waterproofed, and the bezel is fully unidirectional to calculate both decompression and dive times.This bezel took Cartier – one of the most celebrated watchmaking names of all – a whole 12 months to create, so as you might expect it really is something a little special. Cartier has doubled the usual amount of teeth that the bezel is ratcheted upon (120 as opposed to 60), so it smoothly rotates as required to time dives to an accuracy of the nearest 30 seconds. In addition, it has also been treated to shrug off scratch damage using amorphous-diamond-like-carbon, so this technological marvel is built to last.
True to its status as a diver’s timepiece, the Calibre de Cartier Diver comes with a durable black rubber strap and an ardillon buckle as standard, and at just 11mm thick it is one of the leanest diving wristwatches currently in production. The case is also waterproofed to depths of 300 metres, so this Cartier watch really does excel. Make no mistake, this timepiece is a legitimate diver’s watch, but of course Cartier have still managed to imbue it with a sense of intrinsic flair that results in this watch being one of the most appealing diver’s watches on the market.
Retaining the iconic sword-shaped hands, the faceted sapphire cabochen-set crown and their signature Roman Numerals has ensured that this watch is never anything less than an unadulterated Cartier, and the 1904-PS MC automatic movement is also an entirely in-house produced calibre. Interestingly, the fact that this movement possesses a small second counter is also notable, as diver’s timepieces are obligated to display an indicator that the watch is still in premium working order.
The 42mm case of this particular Cartier Diver is crafted from 18 carat pink gold, as are the bezel and the buckle of the timepiece, and this colouration is undoubtedly the crowning glory that makes this watch as suited to dress occasions as it is to underwater exploration. It is rare to find a watch that you would unthinkingly wear with either a wetsuit or a dress suit, and even rarer to be able to implicitly trust its suitability within both environments, but Cartier have undoubtedly created such a phenomenon in the Diver.
This Cartier Calibre de Cartier Pink Gold Dive Watch is available from Banks Lyon Jewellers for £19,400, and can be yours on 0% finance for 36 monthly payments of £431.11 and an additional 20% deposit. Simply superb, this wristwatch really is one of the most exciting Cartier releases for quite some time, and a cursory glance at their collection will indicate how bold a statement that is. To find out more about this timepiece, or indeed any of our other Calibre de Cartier watches, please don’t hesitate to contact us by calling 01524 38 48 58 or emailing [email protected] today.
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