*Unpolished* 1970s Cartier Paris Gondole 18K YG (Ref. 97050) "Jumbo"

The Cartier name is synonymous with luxury and has been since the brand's inception in 1847. Offering bespoke and unique jewelry to the world’s elite allowed Cartier to steadily grow through the 19th century and eventually introduced new offerings and wristwatches to their clientele. 

The Cartier Gondole is one such watch from the Maison. The Gondole was introduced alongside the Cristallor, Ellipse, and Vendome for the "Louis Cartier Collection" that Cartier launched in 1973. While the Gondole was introduced in two case shapes, a vertical and horizontal version, both iterations shared a similar stepped case construction as the other members of the Louis Cartier Collection. Though it is safe to say the Gondole takes this design to another level with its jumbo proportions, with a case size that would be considered large by today’s standard. This is not only unique for the era, but especially unique for Cartier, who was more known for more modest case sizes through the 1970s and onward. Despite these unique dimensions, the Gondole feels distinctly Cartier, making this watch one of the most elegant and versatile watches from the collection.