The Extra-flat Ballon Bleu de Cartier Watch

However, creating a thin watch is a very difficult task that requires many delicate skills and very refined professional design.

Ultra-thin watches present more difficulties to the watchmaker because their movements need to be composed of thinner and therefore, less rigid components and smaller height tolerances. On the other hand, thin watches hold a special place among the watch enthusiasts, as they are perfectly elegant and fit flawlessly with formal attire, the cufflinks, and pocket squares.

Cartier presented their new ultra-thin creation, Extra-flat Ballon Bleu de Cartier. The watch is offered in three variations: pink gold, white gold and platinum. The watches look simple at a first glance, but on closer inspection, their remarkable attention to detail becomes evident. Golden variations are adorned with silver guilloché dials while the platinum one sports sunburst deep blue dial. Like most of the Cartier models, these watches are equipped with blue cabochon crown and completed with matching leather straps. Their 46.0 mm diameter case with sapphire crystal covering provides a clearly modern feel.

The Extra-flat Ballon Bleu de Cartier provides basic indications of hours and minutes, since the thin watches demand extraordinary mastery to push the components of the movement to the limits of their capacity. Horological complications require more components and normally add to the thickness (height) of the movement and the case.

According to the golden rule “the thinner the watch is, the dressier it is”, this classy piece can easily complement a high-couture suit, but due to the generously wide case, it is also suitable for a daily wear.

The pink gold one is made of 18-carat pink gold and priced at $20,300. The platinum version is crafted from 950/1000 platinum and available for $32,550. The white gold variation costs $21,800.