Founded in 1847 in Paris by Louis-François Cartier, the house of Cartier quickly gained renown for its fine jewelry and royal clientele. King Edward VII of England famously proclaimed Cartier “the jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers,” after the maison supplied dozens of glittering tiaras for his coronation. In these early days, watches were not yet the everyday accessory they are now – pocket watches were the norm for gentlemen, and wristwatches were worn predominantly by women as decorative bracelets rather than purely timekeepers. Cartier, being first and foremost a jeweler, was perfectly poised to blur the line between adornment and function.

Introduced in 1917 amid the tumult of World War I, the Cartier Tank broke the mold of traditional round watches with its sleek, rectangular silhouette. Louis Cartier found inspiration in an unlikely source: the top view of a military tank. The watch’s flat vertical side bars (called brancards) mimic the treads of a tank, and its square case represents the turret. The very first prototype was even gifted to U.S. General John Pershing in 1918 as a token of appreciation, underscoring the design’s modernity and significance. With its clean lines, Roman numeral dial, and sapphire cabochon crown (a little blue jewel on the winding knob), the Tank was a triumph of Art Deco design – simple, bold, and effortlessly chic.

From the beginning, the Tank was conceived as a unisex watch, and indeed its versatility is part of its legend. Over the decades, it has been produced in various sizes and metals, finding a particularly devoted following among women who adore its blend of strength and sophistication. Style icons have gravitated to the Tank’s understated glamour. 

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis famously wore a gold Cartier Tank, making it part of her signature look, and Princess Diana adopted the Tank Louis Cartier during the 1990s as a symbol of her independent style after her separation. (In fact, Diana’s Tank Française, another variation, was passed down to her sons and eventually worn by Meghan Markle, adding to the watch’s royal lore.) The Tank has also graced the wrists of Hollywood royalty like Elizabeth Taylor and Madonna, proving its broad appeal.

Perhaps one of the most telling testaments to the Tank’s iconic status came from artist Andy Warhol. Warhol was often seen with a Tank watch peeking out from under his sleeve – though he admitted it wasn’t about telling time. “I don’t wear a Tank watch to tell the time… I wear a Tank because it is the watch to wear!” he quipped. In other words, the Tank is as much a style statement as it is a timekeeper. With its century-old history and perennial design, the Cartier Tank remains a cornerstone of women’s luxury watches – a piece that instantly elevates any outfit with its heritage and understated elegance.

While the Tank embodies restrained elegance, the Panthère de Cartier exudes overt glamour and feline grace. Launched in 1983, the Panthère watch was envisioned as “a watch that doubled as a piece of precious jewelry,” and it truly blurs the line between jewel and timepiece. 

The design is characterized by a small, square case with rounded edges and an ultra-flexible link bracelet – meant to emulate the fluid, sinuous movement of a panther stalking its prey. In fact, the entire concept draws from Cartier’s long-time emblem, the panther (panthère in French), which had been a symbol of the Maison since 1914, representing a kind of fierce, fearless femininity in a very cool way.

Cartier’s association with the panther can be credited in large part to Jeanne Toussaint , the maison’s creative director in the mid-20th century, who was nicknamed “La Panthère” and wove the exotic cat motif into many jewelry pieces. Decades before the Panthère watch existed, Cartier was already crafting onyx-and-diamond panther spots on bracelets and brooches for fashionable clients. The Panthère de Cartier watch took this inspiration and ran with it: its very name and design pay homage to the house’s iconic big cat. The bracelet’s brick-pattern links, often rendered in yellow gold, feel as smooth and slinky as a piece of high jewelry. Many versions of the Panthère are indeed gem-studded – some dials are framed with diamonds, and limited editions have even featured panther imagery – making it clear that this model is as much about adornment as utility.

Upon its release in the flashy Studio 54 era of the 1980s, the Panthère became an instant hit among the trendsetters and jet-setters. Interestingly, it wasn’t just women who embraced it at first; stylish men like Keith Richards and Pierce Brosnan were early adopters of the yellow gold Panthère in the ’80s, attracted by its decadent look. Soon, however, it evolved into the ultimate “It-girl” watch. In the 1990s, stars like Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow stacked their Panthère watches with gold bangles, cementing its status as the accessory of the moment. (Madonna reportedly loved hers so much she even gifted one to singer Alanis Morissette to celebrate the success of Jagged Little Pill!)

After a production hiatus in the 2000s that only heightened the Panthère’s allure, Cartier re-released the collection in 2017 with some modern improvements (a sturdier bracelet and better water resistance). To herald the revival, Cartier collaborated with filmmaker Sofia Coppola on a short film celebrating the Panthère’s vintage glamour – a fitting tribute to the watch’s starring role in pop culture. Today, the Panthère de Cartier remains a symbol of jet-set chic. You’ll spot it adorning the wrists of contemporary style icons like Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, and Zendaya , who pair its classic gold glint with today’s fashion, proving that true style never goes out of vogue. For women who want their watch to be a bold fashion statement – equal parts elegant and eye-catching – the Panthère is purr-fectly on point.

Cartier’s women’s watches have an enduring appeal that goes beyond their pretty faces. Here’s why these timepieces remain so iconic and desirable among women around the world:

• Timeless Design & Craftsmanship: Cartier watches are designed with a thoughtful blend of style and substance, allowing them to transcend trends and look elegant in any era . Signature features like the silvered dials with Roman numerals and blued steel sword-shaped hands have become instantly recognizable hallmarks of Cartier. These refined details lend a classic sophistication that enhances readability while never going out of style.

Cartier watches have been part of countless cultural moments. When Princess Diana or Jackie O wore a Cartier Tank, it wasn’t just a fashion choice – it was a defining image of chic femininity that inspired millions. From Hollywood’s golden age to the present, style icons continue to embrace Cartier. Pop culture is full of Cartier cameos, whether in films, songs, or real-life red carpets. Today’s A-list celebrities and fashion influencers (think Zendaya, Rihana, Dua Lipa, or Kate Middleton ) are often spotted with Cartier timepieces, reinforcing the brand’s image as the ultimate style-setter. This celebrity cachet makes Cartier watches instantly recognizable shorthand for luxury and taste.