You know that moment when you remember a thing, or accessory, or object forgotten in the closet that you cared about so much? This is how I feel about Cartier Baignoire watches. It seems to me that this watch has a specific beauty. And yet, few people are looking for it, favoring Tank alternatives. I suppose that Tanks are really more versatile and suitable for current trends. However, it’s such a pity that classic beauties like Cartier Baignoire remain somewhere behind, eclipsed by modern models.
How did I come to remember this watch? I have recently watched an old movie with one of my favorite French actresses, Catherine Deneuve. How beautiful and talented she was in her glory years. Often, the press noticed her wearing a Cartier Baignoire. Thanks to her, I remembered the Cartier Baignoire replica watches that we have in AAAReplica stock. How did I miss doing a review of these watches? In this article, I’m going to talk specifically about the Cartier CRWGBA0007 Baignore replica watch, which I think was ignored, for some reason, by the audience.
General description
I do not know the age of each of our blog’s readers. But I hope there will be many of the same age group as I am. Why? As I get older, I discover the value of things differently. For example, before, I used to draw attention exclusively to the design of a certain watch, without caring much about its history. But now, I’m interested in who wears it, how they wear it, and why they wear it. Respectively, I have the special pleasure to discover that old celebrity wore accessories that can still be found today in the industry. And these accessories gain a greater value knowing that they were the allies of the celebrities of that time.
Back to the Cartier Baignoire watch…
The public saw Catherine Deneuve wearing this model at all kinds of events and occasions. It seems that this model was a loyal companion for any of her environment and mood. More than that, she wore it in the leather strap version, as well as in the metal bracelet version. So, the watch was really close to her soul.
What does the watch actually represent? Let’s start with the name. “Baignoire” is deciphered from the French as “Bathtub”. Nothing romantic, so far. According to unconfirmed sources on the Internet, it seems that the design of this watch was among the first watch concepts of the Cartier master. Maybe the name was just a temporary variation, which was to be changed later… It is not known exactly. Either way, the name and design of the watch really have a lot in common. In particular, the oval shape of the case recalls the outline of a bathtub, as well as the wavy edge that alludes to water.
Historical references
Looking at the Cartier replica watch, I was curious to know when the brand launched the first model. Thanks to the internet, I found the answer immediately. Turns out that the public learned about the Baignoire model in 1957. Initially, the brand offered this watch as a gift for famous actresses and artists. Gradually, the watch became available to the general public, becoming desired, dreamed, and sought-after model. The brand made several iterations of this model, in which it waltzed with more rounded and elongated shapes. The most popular version of the watch remained the CRWGBA0007, whose replica version we are reviewing today.
Cartier Baignoire Ref. CRWGBA0007 replica watch specifications
Now that you know more or less something about the historical value of this model, I hope you will see it just as beautiful in its replica version. The imitation is available on a quartz mechanism, which is easy to use. The selling point of this replica watch is, indispensably, its oval shape. To reproduce the aristocratic and noble aura of the 20s, the manufacturers polished the knockoff with yellow gold, in a rather generous layer. Like most formal ladies’ watches, the size of the imitation is subtle and fine, measuring only 31 mm*23 mm. It would seem that the watch is much too flimsy for a lady’s wrist. But thanks to the thickness of 7mm, the watch is conspicuous enough to receive appreciation and ovations.
Overall Appeal
I would not dare to characterize this watch as a statement piece, but it is certainly very close to being. I’m sure that few people would opt for a replica Baignoire over a Tank knockoff these days. For this reason, I must say that this imitation is not for everyone. The target audience of the Baignoire imitation is, without a doubt, ladies with a sophisticated vision of style. This watch looks extremely good in distinct and slightly aristocratic circumstances.
Case details
The best word to describe the case of this replica watch is: delicate. The case is presented in an elegant oval silhouette in which the bezel has a smooth and rounded relief, adding visual volume to the entire construction. The bezel is the essential detail that helps the imitation to be noticeable on the wrist.
The distinctive element of the Baignoire replica watch is the iconic blue cabochon, which is so representative of Cartier watches. This cabochon adds an extra touch of sophistication to the somewhat aristocratic watch. The cabochon crown rotates extremely smoothly, by the way. Even if it is subtle in proportions, it was not difficult for me to adjust it, considering that my fingers are not “feminine” at all.
In fact, you won’t need to use the watch crown very often. After all, it is a quartz replica watch. However, you will use this function about 2 times a year when it will be necessary to adjust the summer and winter times.
Looking very carefully at the frame around the cabochon, I could not ignore the small execution errors. The original watch has a smooth and wavy outline at the base. The outline is a bit stiffer in the replica watch, and it lacks accuracy between the waves.
Dial details
I don’t really have much to say about the dial of this replica watch. Its face is so typical that you can find it in practically any Cartier watch. The Baignoire replica dial features a completely special dial with a silver matte texture. The second hand is missing from the dial, as the brand wanted to preserve the essential functions of time.
The manufacturers reproduced the hour indicators quite successfully, keeping the suppleness of the Roman markers and their elongated and slightly curved shape.
I may be wrong (the office light can mislead me), but it seems to me that the black hour markers differ in the replica watches from the original one. The authentic watch benefits from a more intense and more pronounced black. In contrast, the knockoff indicators seem to tend to a dark greyish nuance.
Further on…
Another difference, a critical one I would say, between the imitation and the original watch consists of the indicator at 10 o’clock. In the authentic version, we notice that the Roman X has a small inscription on one side of the 2 lines. The inscription illustrates the brand name “Cartier”. It’s an extremely refined, specific, and elegant detail.
Unfortunately, I can’t find it in the replica alternative. It was difficult for the manufacturers to reproduce this element, opting for the simpler version in which the Roman numeral “10” is a simple X. `such a pity for this detail. The replica watch seemed to be almost perfect…
Either way, the Baignoire replica watch has a sapphire crystal that is traditionally covered with a double anti-reflective layer. A nice bonus is the fact that the crystal is part of the anti-scratch category, which protects it against small impacts.
Caseback and water resistance
Being a watch that alludes to old timepieces, its caseback is solid. The manufacturers used 904l stainless steel as the base material for this replica watch and polished it with 18k yellow gold. The caseback of the watch has the same composition and is attached to the case with the help of 4 screws.
In this release, the manufacturers did not make the imitation waterproof. That is, they claim that the knockoff would have a resistance of up to 5 meters. But, when they say that, that means zero resistance, in my view. I would not risk putting this imitation in contact with water. First of all, I’m not sure about the water protection system. Secondly, I do not rule out that the polished gold layer could be affected after the contact. Respectively, I do not urge those who will have it to interact with water.
You will see that the manufacturers have engraved the inscription “water-resistant” on the caseback of the replica watch. They do it to reproduce the inscription on the original watch. But this does not mean that the imitation is water resistant. If you want to convince yourself, you can contact a specialist who will pressure test your watch. Only after such a test can you use the watch in water conditions.
Technical aspects
As I mentioned before, the replica watch runs based on a quartz mechanism, just like the genuine model. I found this knockoff in different price categories. It is available in 3 price options, including in our store, AAAReplica. The price depends on the mechanism inside. It is about Automatic, Swiss movement, and Top 1:1 Clone mechanisms. If the automatic one is around $150, the 1:1 Clone option is around $1,200. Frankly speaking, I don’t see the need to pay $1,200 for a copy, when the Swiss movement option looks identical, and is half the price.
What I want to say is that you have to be cautious. Most dealers will try to convince you that the Clone 1:1 is the best. But also the most expensive. I don’t see any aesthetic difference between these 2 models. respectively, the only difference is the mechanism, which seems to be better. But we are talking here about a watch that is a time-only piece from the perspective of functions. In addition, it is a quartz watch. It’s really not necessary to pay so much for a quartz mechanism that usually works quite well even in its cheapest form. For these reasons, be cautious and balance the pluses and minuses judiciously.
Final word
As a model, I think this watch can be loved exclusively by those who know the essence of horology. For the rest, this model will remain somewhere in the shadows, being eclipsed by the contemporaneity of Tanks or Santos. And there is nothing to blame here. Certain watches are not for everyone. And this Baignoire will never be under the spotlight for those who love current trends.
On the other hand, as simple as this watch seems, it carries the definition of elegance and the essence of refinement within itself.
As for the replica watch, its condition has small aesthetic shortcomings, which you already know about. However, the replica watch has a mechanism that is as simple to use as it is durable and functional.
Quickly concluding the pros and cons, here are the main ideas:
Pros:
-proportions identical to the authentic model;
– the design of the dial, texture, outline, and silhouette of the indicators look the same as in genuine;
– quite a generous layer of yellow gold that will last for a long time;
-you can opt for mechanisms of different quality levels, according to the available budget;
Cons:
– the base of the cabochon is a little more rigid than in the authentic model;
– the 10 o’clock marker has a different design compared to the original watch;
-no water resistance.
Considering these pluses and minuses, I say it’s a pretty promising profile for a replica watch. It already depends on your personal preferences and how strongly you resonate with his model or not.