Founded in Paris in 1847, Cartier has defined luxury watchmaking for over 175 years. The Ballon Bleu, introduced in 2007, quickly became one of the most recognisable and commercially successful watch designs of the modern era — a testament to how thoroughly it distilled Cartier’s aesthetic DNA into a single form. The name refers to the characteristic blue bubble housing the crown at three o’clock: a design detail that gives the watch its instantly identifiable silhouette and sets it apart from everything else the maison produces.

Reference W69012Z4 is the large model Ballon Bleu in polished stainless steel, measuring 42 mm in diameter with a case thickness of 13 mm. The silvered flinqué guilloché dial catches light across its engraved surface, framed by bold black painted Roman numerals, a fine inner minute track and sword-shaped hands in blued steel. A date window sits discreetly at three o’clock. The fluted crown is set with a synthetic blue spinel cabochon in the signature Cartier style. At its heart beats the Cartier Calibre 049, an automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve. The anti-reflective sapphire crystal sits above a solid caseback. Water resistance is rated to 30 metres. The watch is fitted on a polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet with a hidden double-folding deployant clasp.

This Cartier Ballon Bleu de Cartier Large is from 2018, is in near mint condition and comes as a full set.