Not every notable timepiece is a Tank.
Far from it, actually. The 1990s were surprisingly fertile ground for the French maison — so much so that it’s possible to explore the brand’s back catalog for years without coming across every reference, or even every collection!
Take the Diabolo — named after a juggling prop — which its crown certainly resembles. The Diabolo is a unique and handsome take on the typical round watch, with long, stylized ‘officer’s’ lugs that give it some added flair. Undoubtedly dressy, it nonetheless maintains the strong lines and robust build of a sportier timepiece. Taking inspiration from even the most seemingly benign sources, Cartier demonstrates its design prowess as an authority on watch case execution.
This particular Diabolo features a 32mm 18K yellow gold case with a domed sapphire crystal, a sapphire cabochon crown, and a light grey dial with black Roman indices, an outer chemin de fer, and a blued steel ‘Breguet’ handset. This piece features the iconic hidden Cartier signature at 7 o’clock.
Powered by the manually wound Cartier Calibre 9P2 movement, it comes paired to a black leather strap with a Cartier signed ‘C’ deployant clasp in yellow gold — for the experienced Cartier collector, you know Cartier piece is something to think about when it is accompanied by a yellow gold deployant buckle.
Trust us: If you’re in search of a dressy piece but the Tank is too ‘run-of-the-mill,’ this precious metal sleeper could absolutely be the watch for you.
The Diabolo is one of the most underappreciated designs in Cartier’s catalog. A classic outgrowth of the 90s, this is the piece didn't know you wanted!