Table of contents:

Are Cartier Watches A Good Investment?

UPDATED JUNE 2024

We meet again, Timelords. This time, we are discussing if Cartier watches are a good investment. Since their creation in 1847, this Swiss brand has been pushing the boundaries of watchmaking, executing world-renowned models such as the Santos-Dumont.

From being the official purveyor of fine watches for the Royal Family in 1904 to the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton wearing the Cartier Ballon Bleu in 2014, they are usually associated with wealth and prestige. One of the most famous horological examples is Princess Diana who wore the iconic Tank Francaise in gold.Ever since, Forbes have estimated that Cartier is worth around £8bn. This incredible figure isnt by fluke, watch lovers. Innovation, simplicity and symbolic design have pushed them this far. But is it sufficient to make you buy a Cartier tout de suite and does it make them great investment opportunities? Read on to find out!

Brief Background Of Cartier Watches

Where to start with such an exceptional brand?

Starting in the ‘city of light’, Cartier was created by Louis-Francois Cartier in 1847. Moving swiftly forward, Louis-Francois' son, Alfred took over the business and moved it to Rue De La Paix in the jewellery district of Paris. It was further expanded to London and New York courtesy of Alfred’s sons.

Cartier Tank - Source - Cartier

Alfred's third son stayed in Paris to focus on watch development wherein his ideas of using precious metals like platinum earned him the role as the ‘jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers’. from King Edward VII in 1902.

Possibly the most well known horological event of all time occurred in 1904 when Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont requested a wristwatch from Louis Cartier. A flat wristwatch with a square bezel was later created which was extremely influential on the watch industry from that point onwards.

It made the wristwatch exceptionally popular and created the Swiss brand’s first ever pilot’s watch, a design that they have stuck with ever since.

In 1917, the face of this watch brand quite literally was changed forever thanks to the Tank. Creating one of their key collections, Louis Cartier returned from the Western front with a concept based on Renault FT tanks he had seen on the battlefield.

The notorious “brancards” design, French for stretcher, represents the treads of a tank, alongside the case itself which is indicative of the cockpit.

The Cartier Tank contains both jewellery and Haute Horologie collections, meaning this model became the first unisex model. Furthermore, it was actually one of the first watches made showing the influence they had on the timekeeping world. High society and popular icons such as Megan Markle and Andy Warhol have all adorned The Cartier Tank.

Louis Cartier would die in 1942 but innovation still ran through the brand’s timekeeping veins such as the first Pasha launched in 1985 and the Tank Francaise which made its debut in 1996. In today’s era, this Swiss powerhouse remains one of the most prestigious and established watchmakers globally.

They released the Roadster in 2002 and the Santos 100 in 2004, marking its 100th anniversary. The Santos 100 enlarged the model to modern proportions but still retained its timelessness through its iconic leather strap. The Santos 100 was such a hit that Cartier didn't touch it again until 2018.

The Concept ID Two, released in 2012 demonstrated their ascendancy into the future, flinging off the shackles of former times. It took five years of research and development across 135 different engineers and it holds a 32 day power reserve in a 42mm case.

In comparison with a standard mechanical watch, it consumes half as much energy, symbolising the incredible evolution of this model in comparison to its mechanical counterparts.

So yes, Cartier is yet to collapse under the weight of their own grandeur. An achievement of its own accord I guess!

Most Popular Cartier Models

Cartier has a myriad of well established models but for the sake of time and sanity watch peeps, we have condensed the list into the top 3 major Cartier collections.

Cartier Tank

Inspired by the Western Front, Louis Cartier designed the Cartier Tank on the Renault FT-17 tanks that were commonly used during WW1. The design was passed onto The American Expeditionary Force in 1917 as a prototype.

Cartier Tank Francaise - Source - Cartier

Introduced fully to the public in 1919, this unisex watch became the staple of Hollywood's finest, being worn by actors like Cary Grant and Humphrey Bogart to actor Vanessa Kirby. The timepiece echoes its past of wartime, blending practicality with a refined design.

The design is rectangular which relates to a birds eye of a tank and its vertical sides which protrude out, relating to a tank's treads. The design was exceptionally avant-garde for its period, breaking with many watchmaking traditions and was instrumental in bringing in an Art Deco trend.

The Cartier Tank is very popular, garnering support from many celebrities today. For example, in June 2017, the models centenary, the most valuable Tank was auctioned off for £315,000 to Kim Kardashian. Its tank like characteristics do not detract from its simplistic yet premium charm of a top end Ferrari.

Its sleek design since its release has epitomised what an elegant watch should look like on the wrist.

You can buy a Cartier Tank Large Model steel version at retail for £3,150 at the time of writing.

Cartier Crash

The Cartier Crash came from the swinging sixties in a period of bold design and experimentation.

Cartier Crash - Source - Cartier

Its history is laced with ambiguity, some saying that the design originated from the burning embers of a car crash involving a Cartier Baignoire Allongée which was later taken into a Cartier store in London and inspired its design.

Whatever the history behind this famous model, the end product looks like a fantastic re-interpretation of something out of a Salvador Dalí painting.

The Crash utilises its bizarre Daliesque shape to make a watch that is instantly recognizable and undeniably unique. Available in rose gold, white gold and diamond, the Crash is one of the most recognisable models from their horological stable.

As expected, this model is associated with the artists amongst us, namely prolific hip-hop artists Kanye West who owns a rare yellow gold model, Jay Z and Tyler The Creator. The classic Roman numeral design is created in such a way that they move with the melting case, extending and retracting to create a surreal dial.

While it may be one of their more daring numbers, it's important to note the classic sapphire crown and blue hands that have made Cartier so timeless since its inception. Oh and yes, it should hold its value and increase over time.

You can buy a Cartier Crash at retail for £137,000 at the time of writing.

Santos De Cartier

The Santos de Cartier represents Cartier's leap into the aviation world.

Created in 1904 by Louis Cartier for his close friend Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian pilot, he needed a highly accurate watch which was accessible on the wrist. This would allow him to check the time without risking him taking his hands off the controls.

The subsequent creation would result in the first ever mass produced pilot watch and men's wristwatch. Incidentally, Santos-Dumont was also the first person to be filmed in an aircraft in flight in 1906. Proudly adorning the Santos de Cartier, this showed Cartier’s initial flight into the big leagues.

Santos de Cartier - Source - Cartier

Ever since, the collection has undergone many alterations and dynamic iterations. The colour choices have changed, from steel, rose gold, yellow gold or white gold for the case to the bracelet options. These feature either a smartlink gold bracelet or a strap which houses brilliant-cut diamonds.

This particular collection is worn by actors at the top of their game including Tom Cruise, Christian Bale and Jake Gyllenhaal. The latter adopts a variety of models including a full steel one which Tom Cruise boasts Christian Bale goes for steel too, this time with a blue dial to accentuate the indices and the face more.

Cartier Santos is certainly one of the best watches for investment. Worn by social elites and brimming with heritage as the first pilot's watch makes this one for any collection.

You can buy a Cartier Santos Large Model in steel at retail for £7,000 at the time of writing.

Do Cartier Watches Hold Their Value?

Cartier watches can do much more than hold their value. They have the potential to increase in value. This is predominantly due to the first-rate heritage that Cartier bestows upon lucky watch fans and collectors looking to buy a watch.

Moreover, it is the quality of craftsmanship, and symbolic status that follows every model.

Pasha de Cartier - Source - Cartier

Cartier watches have phenomenal staying power due to their storied history and their incredible design. There are many examples of this but the best way to check is through the older models and to see if they retain their value. For example, a stainless steel Tank from 1935 was sold by Sotheby’s for more than £200,000 in 2021.

This shows the level of appreciation that some Cartier models have the potential of achieving.

Collections like the Cartier Tank are famed for their rectangular designs which stretch back since the collection's inception in 1917. Similarly, the Pasha de Cartier has kept its beautifully rounded case, large bevel and screw down crown design since its introduction in 1985 .

Some Cartier watches are extremely coveted among collectors which means they have a stronger chance of holding their value. For example, the 46mm Cartier Extra Large Ballon Bleu Tourbillon diamond watch. You can buy a Cartier Extra Large Ballon Bleu Tourbillon for around £800,000 at the time of writing.

Just as Rolex is famed for using their crown since 1925, Cartier's watch collections haven't changed aside from updating the movement, demonstrating the longevity and quality of materials inside each model.

In 1904, Jaeger-LeCoultre joined Cartier in a contract to create ultra-thin mechanical movements for the new Santos watches. Edmund Jaeger had created ultra thin calibres so for Jaeger to supply all their watch movements for a period of 15 years, was a huge financial win for both Jaeger and LeCoultre.

Best Cartier Watches To Invest In

It could easily be stated that any Cartier model is a good investment. However, we know some of you watch fiends are on here to turn a good profit. The best Cartier watches to invest in, as is the case with most watch brands, are those that are rare or have an illustrious back story like the Tank Solo which appeals to many collectors.

Cartier Tortue Minute Repeater - Source - The Rake

In addition, The Cartier Phoenix Decor Secret Watch has only one model released. Shaped like a phoenix, the watch is predominantly made from white gold and is plated with rhodium. The eyes are made from emeralds and diamonds. The entirety of the model is covered by over 3000 brilliant-cut diamonds which equates to 80.13 carats.

You can buy a Cartier Phoenix Decor Secret for around £2.3 million.

But I get that most of you loyal watch enthusiasts will not have this lying under the sofa! The Cartier Rotonde Tourbillon Chronograph Platinum watch is a very limited edition with just 50 pieces created. In a round platinum case, it has a transparent case back and beautiful black alligator strap with a platinum double adjustable deployant buckle.

You can buy a Cartier Rotonde Tourbillon Chronograph Platinum watch for around £180,000 at the time of writing.

It’s also wise to try and buy vintage Cartier watches. For example, a Tortue Minute Repeater was sold in 2002 for around £880,000. Known to be the only minute repeating watch made by Cartier during the Art Deco period, it was registered by Cartier in 1929 and sold in 1931. This goes to show that the older Cartier watches have the potential to vastly exceed their original retail price.

And our watch spies tell us that prices have been rising for rarer Cartier models from the 60’s and 70’s that may give you that added bit of equity.

Conclusion

Cartier has been able to retain its quality for all these years and still produce the highest level of watches as they did over a century ago. While sticking to the main designs of the Cartier Tank and Santos de Cartier, they have made minor adjustments to keep the technology relevant while still maintaining the classic watch designs and sleek looks that have been working so far.

In an era where retroism is not just celebrated but revered amongst watch enthusiasts, Cartier were well ahead of the game.

They are certainly worth the investment due to several factors. From the watches' collectability and craftsmanship to exclusivity, celeb clientele and rich heritage, many of these timepieces will hold value, while some may rise versus retail over time, most notably the Cartier Tank and Santos gold models.

Feeling a desire to own a piece of history? Want to buy a Cartier Tank or Cartier Santos-Dumont? Perhaps you want to sell a Cartier and get your hands on a vintage model?

Then it’s time to contact Chrono Hunter and see what we can do.

Contact us here and check out our phenomenal reviews on Trustpilot to see why so many people regard us as their first choice when they want to buy a watch or sell a watch.

Covering all top Swiss luxury watch brands, you can not only sell your Cartier but sell your Audemars Piguet and sell your Rolex quickly and at the best possible price.

We want you to achieve the highest value for your beloved timepiece. With our established network of luxury retailers, your transaction is in the safest and most secure hands.

Receive offers in hours if not minutes and save money the smart way.

Discover, hunt, buy, sell

Buy Or Sell A Luxury Watch The Smart Way With Chrono Hunter

If you are considering your new purchase or perhaps the sale of a beloved timepiece, Chrono Hunter is the smart way to buy or sell a luxury watch.

Compare Offers from the world's most reputable luxury watch retailers.

Save Time.

Save Money.

Personalised Service.

Hassle-Free.