Cartier at Watches and Wonders 2026: The Return of the Roadster and the Tortue Triumphant

With well over a century of incredible design to draw from, Cartier’s Watches & Wonders offerings are always highly anticipated, as the Maison has been known to zig when others expected them to zag. The 2026 collection certainly doesn’t disappoint, offering smart updates in the form of a supple bracelet for the Santos Dumont, and a refreshed take on the Privé concept, as well as the return of not just the Tortue to the mainline collection, but also the Roadster — a move which is sure to raise an eyebrow or two. Of course, Cartier being Cartier, there’s also some incredible jewellery work on hand, like the new Baignoire models and the dramatic Myst de Cartier. 

 

The Roadster de Cartier 

It’s news to no one that Cartier are *the* brand when it comes to shaped watchmaking, and the Maison has an undeniuable reputation when it comes to dressier, more elegant watches. But be careful, dressy elegance does not automatically exclude words like sports and performance from the conversation, and Cartier has plenty of silhouettes made with action in mind, for example, the rightfully iconic Santos de Cartier, which has been a mainstay of the brand for decades. One more recent sporty shape, and one that has languished until today is the Cartier Roadster. First released in 2002, this streamlined design took inspiration from the world of automotive speed to create a watch that embodied speed, from its curvy case to the speedo-inspired dial. 

 

For Watches & Wonders 2026, the Roadster makes its triumphant return, refined and renewed in line with contemporary tastes. The Roadster’s most defining design detail is still very much in evidence — the integrated and stylised crown that perfectly morphs into  date amplification on the sapphire crystal.

 

The new Roadster is offered in two sizes — Medium and Large — and in three case options: steel, steel-and-gold and gold. Most versions come with traditional white dials, with a circular striated pattern and the familiar Roman numerals. The Large steel model is also offered with a dark blue dial and a matching rubber strap. All versions, as it is par for the course, come with QuickSwitch-equipped straps and bracelets, and the large models are powered by the Automatic 1847 MC, while the smaller use the Automatic 1899 MC.

 

The Cartier Tortue

 

Shifting gears from the Roadster, the venerable Tortue, first created in 1912, is a major focus for Cartier at Watches & Wonders in 2026. Following on from a successful Privé edition in 2024, the brand has launched a new Tortue collection. Offered in a total of eight versions, in varying degrees of dazzle, what unites them is the sleek lines of the shaped case, an embossed dial with Roman numerals which leaves the rail track minutes in favour of more minimalist dots. The core collection offers white and rose gold models with cases set with brilliant-cut diamonds in small and mini models. There’s a more minimal yellow gold version with no diamonds that is the most elegant of the bunch. But the real stars of the new Tortue line up are a remarkable platinum model covered in baguette-cut diamonds and a pair of incredible Panthère Mêtiers d’Art Tortue Watches in white and yellow gold. The tableau of a panther at rest extends from the dial to the case and has been created with an artful use of champlevé enamel placed into droplet-like depressions in the case and dial. The panther’s nose and eyes are set in onyx and tsavorite, respectively. Unsurprisingly, each version is limited to 100 pieces. 

 

The Cartier Baignoire 

 

The Baignoire’s status as one of the ultimate ‘It’ watches continues to remain unchallenged, and you could even argue that Cartier has upped the stakes with a remarkable new expression of this ovoid bracelet, inspired by one of watchmaking’s most celebrated finishing techniques — the Clous de Paris. Cartier has taken this pyramidal pattern off the dial and extended it across the case and bracelet, taking an ornamental finish and turning it into something more sculptural. Of course, it’s a work of art, painstakingly hand-polished across every precise angle. And just in case the yellow gold version wasn’t opulent enough for you, there’s a fully set version which adds 171 brilliant diamonds to the case and bracelet, and a further 100 stones set on the dial. 

 

Cartier Privé

 

One of the most highly anticipated releases from Cartier is the Privé release, which offers a contemporary interpretation of a classic design. Since 2015, we’ve been spoiled by offerings from the Crash, the Cintrée, the Tortue and more. This year, Cartier is trying something a little different. They’re celebrating the 10th Opus of Privé, and offering three of the most emblematic shapes from previous editions. The Tank Normale, the Tortue Chronographe Monopoussoir and the Crash Squelette. Suitably, it’s a trilogy in platinum, with the distinctive burgundy colour scheme that has become so recognisable for Cartier’s most precious of metals. 

 

In addition, Cartier is inaugurating Cartier Privé – La Collection, which brings together these emblematic designs at a gathering of watchmaking enthusiasts. This year, we get three studies in yellow gold, with apple hands and golden dials: the Tank Normale, the Cloche de Cartier and the Tank Cintrée. 

 

The Myst de Cartier 

 

Not to be confused with the seminal puzzle game of the same name, the Myst de Cartier is a part sculpture, part watch — an exercise in volume and movement very much in the aesthetic lineage of the great Jeanne Toussaint. Visually, this creation is inspired by a trompe-l’oeil bracelet, where the fine jewellery could be a beaded bracelet. This decorative creation is offered in two versions, one in yellow gold and diamonds, accented by brilliant black lacquer work. The other is a more monochrome expression in white gold, with a staggering 986 diamonds on the case and bracelet, and an additional 45 on the dial. 

 

The Cartier Santos Dumont

 

For years, the Santos Dumont has sat as the dressier alternative to the Santos de Cartier, with slimmer lines, a more patrician countenance and, notably, a clear predilection for a leather strap. This year, Cartier has blurred the lines just a little by adding a bracelet to the Santos Dumont. Offered in yellow gold and platinum, this new bracelet is both silky and slinky. Comprising a total of 394 links across 15 rows, and coming in at only 1.15mm thick, this brand-new bracelet is a perfect example of how Cartier applies jewellery techniques to fine watchmaking. For now, the bracelet is offered on three models, all 43,5 x 31.4 x 7.3mm, powered by the manually wound calibre 430 MC. There’s yellow gold and platinum with silver dials and, the most special of all, a yellow gold model with a tonally matched gilded obsidian dial.