Cartier Tonneau 2458 B

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Louis Cartier, obsessed with design, has always been thriving in the genre of creating revolutionary and influential styles.
Cartier, founded in 1847 in Paris, started making watches in the beginning of the 20th century. The second-oldest model, introduced in 1906, was the Tonneau, which is the French word for barrel or ton. Its design, the combination between a round and square-shaped case, was (and still is!) remarkable and broke free from the traditional designs of that era. Furhtermore, the curvy, elongated shape, the large Roman numerals and the elegant leather strap have proved to be resilient as the watch's design has not been altered since its introduction. From the beginning, the Tonneau has been a watch meant for an exclusive part of the Parisian brand's clientele, since only a minority could appreciate such an extraordinary design. It was ahead of its time!
Nowadays, this timepiece is a true classic. It changed the entire watch industry and created a new style of watch case designs. Therefore, the Tonneau has a prominent place in Cartier's collection and is highly appreciated by watch aficionados all over the world. It is no wonder that we are thrilled to have this luxury timepiece in our collection.
This beautiful handwinder dates back to '99, so it is quite a young specimen as this model has been around for more than a century. The 18k rose-gold case, which houses a caliber 78, has the dimensions of 26mm x 39mm, which appears quite large but wears very elegant thanks to the slim, curvy shape that fits neatly to the wrist. The 18k rose-gold bezel makes this reference 2458 B stand out even more. The dial of this example, which is protected by a sapphire crystal, is typically Cartier; white with large, Black Roman numerals and blue hands. On the dial, below the 12-hour marker, the word 'Paris' is displayed right below the brandname 'Cartier'. Right under the 6-hour position the dial says 'Made in France'. The watch comes with an original Cartier oxblood alligator strap.

Introduction

Cartier Louis-François Cartier took over his master’s jewellery workshop in 1847. Over the years, his sons and grandsons inherited the family business and expanded the brand by opening shops in New York and London. King Edward VII of the United Kingdom granted Cartier a prestigious royal warrant in 1904, calling the brand “the jeweler of kings and the king of jewellers.” Such was the renown of Cartier, that royal warrants soon rolled in from all over the world (among which, Belgium, Egypt, Greece, Siam, Spain, Portugal, and Russia). While Cartier is known primarily for its jewellery, it also has a storied history in watchmaking. Cartier’s first foray in watchmaking came in 1888, offering exclusively ladies models. In 1904, Louis Cartier gave his friend and Brazilian aviation pioneer Santos Dumont to wear during his flights. Until then, wrist watches were worn exclusively by women and men opted for the traditional pocket watch. The ‘Santos-Dumont’ was not only the first wristwatch geared towards men but also the first pilot’s watch!

Specifications

Shipping

We offer complimentary worldwide shipping by insured courier. Packages are generally dispatched within 2 days after receipt of payment and are shipped by private courier, PostNL, FedEx or Ferrari group; depending the value and destination. Consult us if you prefer another method of shipping. For all destinations tracking is available.