Cartier Serpenti Watch

Yes, Cartier is a watch company. It also produces jewelry, sunglasses and other accessories. For its extraordinary range of bracelets, watches, rings and other adornments, French luxury house Cartier is undeniably one of the best-known and internationally revered jewelers in the world. One of Cartier’s earliest major successes was the Santos de Cartier watch — one of the world's first modern wristwatches for men. (Previously, many people only used pocket watches.) Louis Cartier designed the timepiece in 1904 for his friend, popular Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to be able to check the time more easily while flying. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of Cartier watches.

What Cartier watch is the most famous is largely a matter of personal opinion. Some well-known watches produced by the French luxury brand include the Tank Solo, the Ballon Bleu De Cartier, the Tank Anglaise, the Crash and the Clé De Cartier. Find a selection of Cartier watches on 1stDibs.

Yes, some Cartier watches are automatic but the legendary French luxury house also creates collections that include watches with quartz movements. Cartier’s iconic Tank collection, which includes the Tank Française, the Tank Louis Cartier and other models, features both quartz and automatic options for all kinds of collectors. Each of the watches in the Panthère collection, however, carries a quartz movement.

While quartz watches are powered by a pre-installed battery and a high-frequency quartz crystal, automatic watches rely on a spring system and are self-winding. An automatic watch does not have a battery and is recharged on the wrist owing to the wearer’s movements during the day.

It was Louis Cartier, grandson of Cartier founder Louis-François Cartier, who was responsible for bringing watchmaking to the venerable maison when he presented Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont with a wristwatch in 1904. 

Although the pocket watch was the de rigueur men’s accessory of the day, Santos-Dumont found his own pocket watch hard to consult while keeping his plane aloft. Louis fashioned a timepiece with a flat, square case on a leather strap that could be referred to easily at a glance. Named in honor of Louis’s friend, the Santos was eventually produced for sale in 1911. 

Find vintage Cartier watches for sale on 1stDibs.

Which Cartier watch is the most iconic is open to debate. One of the French luxury brand's most influential watches is the Cartier Tank, which debuted in 1917. A women's watch, the Cartier Panthere is another of the brand's legendary designs. It was introduced in 1914, and its original design drew inspiration from a painting of a panther by artist George Barbier. Shop a large collection of Cartier watches on 1stDibs.

Yes, Cartier watches are considered luxury watches. Cartier is a noted jeweler, taking that attention to detail and access to high-quality metals and jewels to their watches—they spare no expense and are highly desirable. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Cartier watches from some of the world’s top sellers.

While trends in collecting do change over time, Cartier watches generally remain popular. The luxury maker produces 400,000 to 500,000 timepieces per year and was the second-largest luxury maker in terms of gross sales after Rolex in several years, including 2023. Some of the best-known Cartier watches are the Cartier Tank, the Panthère de Cartier, the Santos de Cartier, the Ballon Bleu de Cartier, the Calibre de Cartier, the Drive de Cartier and the Pasha de Cartier. Find a wide range of Cartier watches on 1stDibs.

Yes, Cartier is a high-end watch brand. In fact, Cartier is one of the leading luxury watchmakers in the world. Cartier uses reliable movements in its timepieces and crafts its watches out of fine materials like white gold, rose gold, yellow gold, platinum and palladium. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Cartier watches.

To tell what year your Cartier watch was made, you can typically look at the serial number on the back. On most timepieces, the first two digits correspond to the year of production. For example, a serial number starting with 87 would indicate a watch made in 1987. Experts suggest working with a professional in the field of vintage fashion when it comes to determining the age of a Cartier watch. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Cartier watches.

Yes, Cartier watches hold their value. In fact, some Cartier watches will go on to be worth more on the preowned market than when they were first purchased.

To tell if a Cartier watch is real, turn the watch over and examine the markings on the back of the case. A real Cartier timepiece shows the brand logo in the correct font along with the words "Swiss Made." Also, ensure that the materials, movement and water-resistance details match the actual specifications of the watch. Find a range of expertly vetted Cartier watches on 1stDibs.

To tell the model of your Cartier watch, locate its model number. On most timepieces, you'll find this eight-digit code on the back of the case. It also appears on the warranty card. Once you have the number, you can use trusted online resources to identify your watch. Find a large collection of Cartier watches on 1stDibs.

Yes, Cartier watches do need servicing roughly every five years. Servicing should include disassembly of the watch, cleaning of the case and metal bracelet and movement refurbishment. On 1stDibs, you can find a collection of expertly vetted Cartier watches from some of the world’s top sellers.

The best way to know what Cartier Tank watch you have is to check the serial number on the back of the case. Cartier customer service can look up the number for you and provide you with detailed information about your timepiece. Check the official Cartier website for the latest contact information. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Cartier Tank watches.

There are six styles of Cartier Crash watches. They are the London crash released in 1967, the Paris Crash released in 1991, the women's Crash released in 2013, the Crash Skeleton released in 2015, the Crash Radieuse released in 2018 and the Crash Bond Street released in 2019. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Cartier watches.

Yes, a Cartier watch can last a lifetime, provided that you care for and maintain it properly. Most Cartier watches need servicing by an authorized repair person at least once every three years. Follow the maintenance schedule included with your watch for the best results. In addition, heed the care and cleaning advice provided by Cartier to help your watch stand the test of time. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Cartier watches.