We love this Cartier sculptural gold bracelet anchored by a perfectly round, diamond-framed dial. Where the Tank is architectural and the Baignoire elongated, the Colisée is pure symmetry.
Its defining feature is the circular case, a deliberate nod to classical antiquity. The name Colisée is a reference to the ancient Colosseums. Cartier has always drawn on Greco-Roman design for inspiration, from the garland-style festoons of the Belle Époque to the Greek key and laurel motifs of its Art Deco period. In the Colisée, that influence comes to life in a perfect golden circle lit by a halo of diamonds.
The18k gold bracelet adds to the beauty. Cabochon sapphire accents are integrated into its oval lattice links. The effect is almost ocular with each rounded link forming a lovely deep blue “eye,” the sapphire cabochon resting at its center. On its own, it would be a striking sapphire-and-gold bracelet; paired with the diamond-set dial, it becomes a complete jewel that just happens to tell time. Such construction is materially intensive and prohibitively costly to reproduce today. Many examples were worn as everyday luxury pieces, making well-preserved treasures like this one, with its tight articulation and original stones, increasingly desirable. As well, compared with the perennial Tank and Santos lines, Colisée production numbers were comparatively modest.
Many of Cartier’s most commercially and stylistically defining watches of the late 1970s and 1980s, including early Panthère and Vendôme variations, were quartz-powered. Quartz allowed for ultra-slim profiles and unwavering reliability, particularly suited to jewelry-driven designs.
This model emerged during Cartier’s design renaissance under Alain-Dominique Perrin. The 80s were all about glam and glitz. The decade revelled in a kind of Dionysian excess, all intoxication and excess. Cartier made it elegant with an Apollonian sense of balance. The Colisée is a golden dream of sapphires and diamonds, a jewel that celebrates symmetry with impeccable Parisian poise.
Maker: Cartier
Model: Vintage Colisée
Year: 1980s
Material: 18k Yellow Gold, Diamonds and Cabochon Sapphires
Dial: White Roman
Case Measurement: 24mm
Movement: Quartz
Condition: Very good
Weight: 71 Grams
Size: Adjustable, Fits Up to 6.4" Wrist
Made in Switzerland
All vintage and pre-owned watches sold by Stephanie Windsor are guaranteed to be genuine and authentic. We also guarantee the proper functioning of your watch’s mechanical movement for one (1) year from the date of purchase. Our warranty does not cover damage resulting from accidents, misuse, neglect, water damage or normal wear and tear. Please note that we do not guarantee waterproofing on vintage or pre-owned timepieces. We therefore do not recommend submerging your timepiece in water or any liquid.
