You might have seen it a couple of days ago on the Instagram page, or you might have read our article about it… either way, I think it deserves a bit more discussion, so without further ado, let me present to you my Cartier Pasha!
“The Sultan’s Watch”
If this term doesn’t ring a bell, check out Lorenzo’s article – “The Cartier Pasha – The Watch of the Sultan”, in which he talks about when, how and why the Cartier Pasha came about. In short, the Sultan of Marrakech, El Glaoui, wanted a watch that suited both his royal sophistication and his sporty lifestyle. Thus, he commissioned Louis Cartier for this task, and some 53 years later it was revisited by the legendary Gerald Genta. He gave his Midas touch to the watch, and the result, in all its shining glory, is now on my wrist.
That’s just a summary. If that’s not really your thing and you want to do a deep-dive into the story of the watch – perhaps even to one-up your friends when it comes to watch trivia, we strongly suggest you check out the full article here!
You name it, it’s got it!
Close your eyes for a minute (but not actually), and immagine: steel, black dial, full bracelet, waterproof, automatic movement…
Alright, be honest: what ballpark figure did you have in mind? Around €7,000, right?
Well, when it comes to the Cartier Pasha, this wasn’t the case. I won’t reveal the exact price, but with the money I paid for this watch, you won’t find anything from a reputable brand like Cartier with these features.
Cartier wasn’t born yesterday, yet some folks are still unaware of this. Apart from the Crash, which is making enormous waves on the aftermarket (and for good reason, just look at it!), a lot of of Cartier’s models don’t really get the attention or credit they deserve.
On the wrist: the Cartier Pasha C-2324
Originally marketed as the “entry level” Pasha, the “C” is the most durable and versatile, not to mention the first Pasha in steel!
It only has one flaw (which I am very capable of looking past), in that it’s missing its Cabochon (the typical sapphire “cap” to its crown). As with anything, there’s another side to this: it’s less eye-popping and equally less fragile.
35mm (it’s making a comeback, folks!) of pure elegance, versatility and character. A case, set of lugs and a dial which scream “Cartier!” to any of those who observe it, and boy, will there be many.
[For the 35mm haters: remember that the bezel, lugs and bracelet make the watch appear and wear much bigger than it actually is. Take a look at the photo… would you have guessed that it’s 35mm?!]
And how could we forget about its waterproof rating of 100m?
I’ve been wearing it non-stop for days now, and I can’t get enough of it.
Comfortable is the key word here. Even though the bracelet doesn’t come with a micro-adjustable feature like those on Rolex bracelets, I really cannot complain. If I must have one complaint, though, it’s that you may get a medium degree of “crown-digging” (crown digs into the top of your hand), but this is all forgotten when I gaze at it at the traffic light.
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: this watch is super versatile. It’s a no-nonsense watch, which in my opinion would hold its own against a Rolex Datejust or Submariner, even an Audemars Piguest Royal Oak, and certainly beating a Speedmaster or a Reverso.
I opted for a black dial, but with the Pasha there is virtually endless possibility and configuration.
Okay, I may be totally infatuated at the moment, but on a more serious note, I really believe that this is “the next big thing“, the “missing” icon (or rather, forgotten), which will rise to stardom once again very soon. Don’t make me say I told you so.
Cartier Pasha Watches&Wonders 2020
Don’t just take my word for it (or in fact, even George Cramer’s!), have a look at what Cartier is doing!
In this article, you can read how Cartier is thinking just like us, and setting the scene for the Pasha through their jaw-dropping re-editions of it, for all of its clients, old and new.
Those who know me will know that I’m not exactly all that patient when it comes to waiting for a new arrival in boutiques. So, I took matters in my own hands, and got myself one pretty much straight away! By all means, you guys can do as you wish!
Whether you love it or hate it, there are two things you must do. The first is to know the watch, remind yourself that it actually exists, and learn to spot it on people’s wrists. The second? Don’t just spot it, but take a good look, because it’s coming back… bigger and better than ever.
-Translated by Patrick R.
