Is Cartier the Rolex for Women?
We were delighted when we saw US President Joe Biden rock what looked like a new Rolex Datejust 41 at the recent inauguration. Political affiliation aside, Rolexes always symbolize achievement and success. An accomplished man, such as a president absolutely deserves to wear a Rolex and should do so if they want.
Of course many women wear Rolexes as well, but when researching some popular powerhouse women, their daily beater is actually not a Rolex, but a Cartier. Curious to discover what type of watch female leaders wear, I searched some popular powerful women leaders and learned that they ALL wore the same Cartier watch as their daily beater. All of these women have achieved a pinnacle of success, and are considered leaders in their fields.
It made me wonder if when a woman reaches a certain level of success, if her “dream” watch is a Cartier, whereas most men strive for a Rolex. I know all people are different and tastes vary widely, but here are three powerful women who dreamt of having a Cartier Ballon Bleu, and achieved that goal.
Kate Middleton, aka Catherine Duchess of Cambridge
The once “average” girl Kate Middleton, turned Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is obviously a powerhouse woman, mother, and leader. Since marrying Prince William in 2011, she has given birth to three children, and women around the world admire her for her compassion and her classic style. Whether she is fishing in Canada, or attending a black tie affair, the Duchess is rarely seen without her 33mm Cartier Ballon Bleu.
About the Cartier Ballon Bleu
This watch is best known for its spherical case that could be reminiscent of a balloon, and also for it’s royal blue sapphire-topped crown that looks as though it is floating. The gem-topped crown is more specifically called a cabochon-topped crown with cabochon meaning “a gem that is polished, but not faceted.” Kate’s version was created around 2006, and is crafted from stainless steel. The classic black roman numerals on the clean opaline silver dial look sophisticated, while the signature blue sword hands give it something extra special.
It is interesting to note that in addition to Kate Middleton, another new member of the Royal family, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex treated herself to a gold and stainless steel version of the Cartier Ballon Bleu when she earned her breakout role of Rachel Zane in the show, Suits. According to sources, Meghan engraved the piece with the phrase “To M.M. From M.M” and said she would give it to her future daughter one day. Meghan also bought the Cartier French Tank yellow gold and steel watch, which costs around $5,300. Of course, fashion icon Princess Dianna was known for wearing Cartier tank watches as well.
Because there are so many variations of the Ballon Bleu (77 on the Cartier website currently), prices can range from the most basic at $4650 up to over $100,000 for ones completely encrusted in diamonds and precious metals. The watches in the Ballon Bleu collection also have a very wide range of sizes, from 28mm all the way to 46 mm in diameter. The Ballon Bleu is also known for having spectacular complications, like a flying tourbillon.
Kamala Harris, aka Madame Vice President of the United States
Madame Vice President Kamala Harris, the first ever female vice president of the United States regularly wears a small two-tone gold & steel Cartier Ballon Bleu.
She has been seen wearing her Ballon Bleu while campaigning as the Democratic vice presidential candidate, litigating as Attorney General, legislating as a Senator, and while socializing at different events. She's also been spotted wearing a steel Cartier Roadster. It’s hard to say what she wore at the inauguration because her long purple jacket covered her wrists most of the time.
While Kamala has had the watch for quite some time now, it’ll be fun to see if it remains her daily beater, or if she’ll branch out to other watches once she settles into her new role. I personally would love to see her in a two-tone Everose and Steel Datejust 36. Not only would it compliment her skin tone, but it’d be a perfect counterpart to President Biden’s new Datejust 41 watch.
According to GQ, the only other president (or VP) known to wear Cartier is John F. Kennedy: Jackie bought him one with a circular dial for their fourth anniversary. However, in contrast many first ladies have worn Cartier, such as current first lady Dr. Jill Biden, Jackie Kenendy, and Michelle Obama. It’s fun to see Cartier being brought back into the White House.
Kris Jenner - aka momager, business-owner, and brand manager extraordinaire
If you’ve been keeping up with the Kardashians, you know that the head of the whole operation is famous brand manager and momager, Kris Jenner. Despite the fact that the Kardashian/Jenner family has a tremendous amount of money to buy any watch they want (maybe ones with the leather straps that complement their Goyard trunks), it is interesting to see Kris regularly wearing a Cartier Ballon Bleu. Sure, she may not be running a country like the other ladies mentioned, but she is running an empire, and that’s almost the same thing.
Other celebrities who wear Cartier Ballon Bleu are fashion mogul Donatella Versace, and actors (and Rolex collectors), Jennifer Aniston and Sophia Vergara. As far as celebrity men go, both Justin Beiber and Usher rock Cartier Ballon Bleu watches. Usher’s Cartier Ballon Bleu retails in the $30,000 range.
So is Cartier the Rolex for woman?
Despite the fact that Cartier, and specifically the Ballon Bleu was originally designed for men, the brand has really struck a chord with women, particularly women in positions of power. It is well-known that Cartier produces almost as many watches every year as Rolex, so they are definitely a worthy contender in the mid-priced luxury watch market for both men and women.
Although not all women strive for a Cartier watch, it seems like for many women, the cabochon crown replaces the Rolex crown as a tangible sign of their success and achievement.
Watches Deserve to be displayed and protected
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Whether a Rolex or a Cartier, your watch will look phenomenal in an Everest leather watch roll. My eye is on the blue leather variety for my future Cartier Ballon Bleu as it will truly enhance the blue hands and blue sapphire crown. Be sure to check out Everest's line of watch accessories here.
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