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The Ballon Bleu, with its fluid and unassuming looks, is a decidedly modern offering in Cartier’s classically oriented line-up of watches. Introduced in 2007, the Ballon Bleu was a marked departure from the traditional Cartier aesthetic, which revolves around classic and geometric dress watches in precious metals. At the same time, it offered a breath of fresh air compared to the massive and over-designed watches of the 2000s. The ref. 3003 Ballon Bleu features a 36 mm 18k rose-gold pebble-shaped case with a beautiful domed sapphire crystal that flows seamlessly into the polished convex bezel and, in turn, into the rounded case back. An integrated crown guard, which gently slopes over the iconic sapphire-tipped Cartier crown, accentuates the organic look of the Ballon Bleu. This pleasing aesthetic is only briefly interrupted by the short lugs that connect seamlessly to the beautiful alligator-leather Cartier strap. While the case design steers from the classic Cartier design language, the dial picks up on the Maison’s heritage. The silvered dial features Cartier’s iconic painted Roman numerals and blued sword hands, while the centre of the dial is decorated with fine guilloché engraving. The classic looks of the dial are juxtaposed against the quirky inward curvature of the minute track and the III numeral to make room for the crown guard on the right hand side of the case. This modern design classic dates back to 2010 and comes with the original box and papers, a chocolate brown alligator-leather Cartier strap, and an 18k rose-gold Cartier Ardillon buckle.