Cartier Unveils Iconic Retro ‘Pebble Watch’

Even with a nearly $45,000 price tag, Cartier will launch just 150 examples of this iconic watch in November.

Cartier

Everyone is excited about this upcoming new watch by Cartier, the coveted ‘Pebble’ or ‘Baseball’ watch, which its designs emerged from Cartier’s London-based workshop in the sixties. This iconic watch has got a charming Swinging ‘60s aesthetic and juxtaposes a square- or diamond-shaped dial with a round case – a design reflective of the creative atmosphere in which they were conceived. The design captures the pure lines, precise shapes and harmonious proportions that are distinctly Cartier while being entirely one of a kind.

Back in the past, the first Pebble officially hit the watch market in 1972, and only six examples of the larger 35.4 mm variation are known to have been produced (five in yellow gold with cream dials and one in white gold with a black dial). Just in time for the model’s 50th anniversary, Cartier announced it will be re-introducing a new Pebble this November.

Cartier
Cartier

The brand has announced they will produce a limited-edition of the iconic watch – just 150 examples. The new edition features a similar design to the old and original version, sporting a beige calfskin strap and an 18K gold carat gold case measuring 36mm in diameter and 6.3 thick with signature Roman numeral indices and blue sword-shaped hands – dimensions that are a little bit similar to the old version (35.4 mm x 5.3 mm). Besides, there will also be minor dials modifications, like the inclusion of Cartier’s ‘Secret Signature’ at seven o’clock and the house’s modern logo at 12 o’clock. The watch’s one key upgrade is in the form of Cartier’s ultra-thin, manual Caliber 430MC movement in place of the original manual mechanism by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Hodinkee goes so far as to call the new Cartier Pebble a “collector’s dream,” purists be damned.

Cartier
Cartier
Cartier

The Pebble belongs to the group of oddly-shaped watches produced by Cartier London – then independent from its counterparts in Paris and New York – in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Crash famously made its debut in 1967, while the Pebble arrived five years later.

While 2022 is the 50th anniversary of the model, the launch of the reissue is timed impeccably for another reason: last year, an original version of the Cartier’s Pebble from 1972 was sold at a Philips auction for $405,000. Then, a month later, a “Turtle” variation from 1975 was sold at $254,000. Now, 150 original versions will be launched very soon in November. The Pebble 2.0 will set back and sell out quickly even with a nearly $45,000 price tag.