Felix Scholz
Editor’s note: We’re very much on the record as being proud members of team Drive, so it was with real excitement that we had a look at the new models shown off at SIHH at the start of this year. And while the Moon Phases?probably has the edge in terms of everyday wearability, when it comes to class, it’s hard to beat the?Drive de Cartier Extra Flat.?One of the standout watches of last year was the Drive de Cartier. The collection impressed with its assured case shape a pleasing blend of robustness and classicism that, for many, epitomised what Cartier is all about. Well, the Extra Flat takes things a few steps further, removing any and all extraneous elements from the Drive and making it even more sublime. What do we mean? For starters, the watch is, well, flat. At 6.6mm thick it's some 40 per cent more slender than the regular automatic Drive a feat achieved largely thanks to the manually wound caliber 430MC (based on the Piaget 430P). Cartier has also made the case a touch smaller (39mm), removed the small seconds and foregone their usual guilloche on the dial.The resulting watch is far more dressy, and absolutely stunning. Offered in pink and white gold, our pick is the more reserved white gold option, which is paired perfectly with a subtle grey alligator strap.Cartier Drive de Cartier Extra Flat in white gold Australian pricing and availabilityCartier Drive de Cartier Extra Flat, white gold, limited to 200 pieces, with an indicative price of $24,000Note: the crown is set with a sapphire, not a cabochon as indicated in the video.
05.12.17