Art as Sport

A Rich History

First conceived in the iconoclastic mind of the late Louis Cartier in 1932, the original model is said to have been commissioned by the Pasha of Marrakesh – hence the name of the collection. A powerful man, he desired to own an elegant luxury watch that could also accompany him on his regular swims and daily bathing. A request that would lead Monsieur Cartier to create one of the first waterproof wristwatches, complete with a chain-secured cap protecting the winding crown. A decade later, the Pasha became part of the official Cartier collection in 1943.
In the 1980s, another gifted designer – the late Gerald Genta – left his indelible mark on the Pasha. Drawing inspiration from Monsieur Cartier’s original creation, Genta reconceived the Pasha in a sportier light, whilst still imbuing it with that inherent sense of elegance all Cartier timepieces convey. Signature elements of this design included the “square inside a circle” layout of the dial, the chain-secured cap protecting the crown and unique lugs decorated with oversized “Clou de Paris” at either end. Genta even went so far as to frame the dial with a diving bezel – complete with hash markings – confirming its place as Cartier’s sports watch of the era.

Now, in 2020, Cartier delights watch lovers everywhere with the introduction of a revamped Pasha collection. The round case is refined and beautifully-shaped, its brushed finishing giving it an understated look on the wrist that contrasts superbly with the smooth, polished bezel. At either end extend the unique lug modules, complete with “Clous de Paris” decoration. Not only do they make the Pasha immediately recognisable on the wrist, they also ensure the watch sits flat for a comfortable fit. In a subtle nod to its heritage, the case is rated water resistant to 100m and features the trademark chained-cap complete with blue cabochon that unscrews to reveal the winding crown underneath.
In classic Cartier style, the silvery-white dial features a stamped guilloché pattern with signature Pasha Arabic numerals and blued hands. The “square inside a circle” design which defined the Pasha collection is of course maintained but has been subtlety updated for modern tastes. The square rail-track is more ornate, giving the Pasha a contemporary look that is very pleasant to the eye.

Two sizes are available to choose from. The Large features a case that is 41mm in diameter and stands a discrete 9.55mm tall. This model incorporates a small date aperture at 4:30 and is offered in either stainless steel or yellow gold, on your choice of a leather strap or metal bracelet. There is also a special skeleton version, with the mainplate of the movement integrating the Arabic numerals. Please note though that this model is available exclusively in a 41mm stainless steel case. The mid-size version meanwhile is 35mm in diameter and 9.37mm high, and comes in your choice of steel, or 18k pink gold, with or without diamonds on the bezel. Both case sizes house the manufacture movement Calibre 1847 MC. Visible through a sapphire case back, this self-winding movement beats at 4Hz and delivers 40 hours of power reserve. 
All models are available with multiple bracelet and strap options, which can be easily changed in and out depending on the occasion and your mood thanks to Cartier’s ingenious “QuickSwitch” strap changing system. Likewise, the metal bracelets are equipped with the “SmartLink” size adjustment system to adjust the size of the bracelet. All without the need for tools. 

The new Cartier Pasha de Cartier collection is available now from Watches of Switzerland. Please visit your closest boutique to discover a selection of pieces in the metal and experience Cartier’s exceptional craftmanship first-hand or click here to view the full Pasha de Cartier collection on our website, buy online for free insured delivery within Australia.