An Icon Reborn: Panthère de Cartier
30 years is a long time to be out of the spotlight but the question is: did the Panthère de Cartier ever go out of style? By all indications, the answer is an unequivocal 'no'. In fact, the iconic timepiece has only improved over time and now (over three decades since its debut), it has finally made its glorious comeback to the fashion zeitgeist.
But first, a little backstory: The Panthère de Cartier was first introduced in 1983, positioned as jewellery first and a timepiece second. It quickly became the watch of the decade – spotted on the wrists of Tina Turner, Pierce Brosnan, and Charlie Sheen's character in Wall Street (1987). In other words? A bonafide hit. Beloved by men and women alike, the Panthère de Cartier was praised for its petite size and most distinguishing design element: a bracelet comprising of five interlocking links for supple movement.
Fast forward to 2017. Proving that old is indeed gold, Cartier has brought back the timepiece by popular demand. This re-issue of the classic piece remains faithful to its 1980s roots with its sophisticated design virtually unchanged – but now comes in 12 alluring styles and two sizes in yellow gold, pink gold, white gold or steel. But even Cartier couldn't resist upping the ante with limited edition models just for 2017: one fully paved with brilliant cut diamonds and the other, sporting a distinctive pattern resembling a panther's coat.
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So what does femininity in the 21st century look like through the lens of Cartier? For that, the Parisian brand enlisted the help of acclaimed director Sofia Coppola (of Lost In Translation and The Virgin Suicides fame). Set against the backdrop of downtown L.A, the short film stars the Panthère de Cartier timepiece in a leading role as Coppola reimagines the quintessential Panthère woman – bold, seductive, and above all else, a classic beauty that transcends time.
