Cartier Drive de Cartier Watches

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About Drive de Cartier Watches

Introduced in 2016, the Drive de Cartier men’s watch collection is home to stylish cushion-shaped luxury watches that draw design details from vintage cars. Not only does Cartier produce the Drive watch in an assortment of materials, but there are also various versions, ranging from time-only editions to complex tourbillons. Whether new or preowned, Cartier Drive watches are elegant fine timepieces that are destined to become a future Cartier classic. 

Drive de Cartier History

While many Cartier timepiece collections, such as the Tank, Ballon Bleu, Clé and Pasha, are marketed as watches for both him and her, in 2016 the Maison released a new watch collection specifically for men called the Drive de Cartier. Illustrating the type of mastery Cartier has over producing wearable “shaped watches,” the Drive watch features a cushion-shaped case that elegantly curves around the wrist. 

Along with the flagship Drive de Cartier model, the brand also introduced the Drive de Cartier Second Time Zone Day/Night and the Drive de Cartier Flying Tourbillon editions that same year. 

The following year, Cartier announced two more versions of the watch in the form of the Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat and Drive de Cartier Moon Phases. While Cartier initially made only white gold and pink gold versions of the Drive Extra-Flat, the company presented steel and yellow gold variants in 2018. 

Drive de Cartier Timeline 

2016: Cartier debuts the Drive de Cartier collection with time/date, dual time and tourbillon models.

2017: Cartier releases Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat and Drive de Cartier Moon Phases.

2018: Cartier introduces steel and yellow gold variants of Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat.

As of 2021, the Drive models remain an important part of the current Cartier men’s watch collection. 

Drive de Cartier Models and Features

Drive de Cartier watches feature wide but slim rounded cushion-shaped cases, which are topped with domed sapphire crystals. For added design interest, Cartier opted to mix finishes where the top of the case is polished while the sides of the case are brushed. 

As its name implies, the Drive de Cartier is an automobile-inspired timepiece — but not in an overt way. Rather, that inspiration is discreet, and the watch stays true to the design codes that have made Cartier’s watches so recognizable. The faceted winding crown is designed to look like a bolt, while the dial guilloche pattern is fashioned after retro radiator grills. Furthermore, the subdials are reminiscent of vintage car dashboards. Similar to almost all Cartier watches, the Drive dials include sword hands and prominent Roman numerals, complete with the secret signature at VII. Furthermore, there’s the customary blue stone set into the winding crown — sapphire on precious metal cases and synthetic spinel on steel ones. 

While the cushion silhouette and classic Cartier details tie all Drive watches together, there are five versions to note:

  • Drive de Cartier: 40mm x 41mm case, 11.25mm thickness, central hour and minute hands, running seconds indicator, date, Caliber 1904-PS MC automatic movement
  • Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat (WSNM0011): 38mm x 39mm, 6.6mm thickness, central hour and minute hands, Caliber 430 MC manual-winding movement
  • Drive de Cartier Second Time Zone Day/Night (WSNM0005): 40mm x 41mm case, 12.63mm thickness, large date, retrograde second time zone, day/night indicator, Caliber 1904 MC automatic movement
  • Drive de Cartier Moon Phases (WGNM0008): 40mm x 41mm, 12.15mm thickness, central hour and minute hands, moon phase indicator, Caliber 1904-LU MC automatic movement
  • Drive de Cartier Flying Tourbillon (W4100013): 40mm x 41mm, 11.3mm thickness, central hour and minute hands, flying tourbillon, seconds indication in the tourbillon carriage, Caliber 9452 MC manual-winding movement

The Caliber 1904-PS MC that supplies the flagship time and date Drive de Cartier model with 48 hours of power reserve is an in-house made movement, created in 2010. The movement is visible from the back of the watch thanks to the sapphire crystal display window. On the other hand, the Extra-Flat Drive models are furnished with solid casebacks, and the Caliber 430 MC manual-winding movement inside the watch provides a 36-hour power reserve.

Drive de Cartier Prices and Collectibility 

As expected, Drive de Cartier prices vary significantly depending on the particular model and type of metal. However, it’s worth mentioning that Drive watches in stainless steel are competitively priced for a men’s mechanical luxury watch. In 2021, the current retail prices for Drive de Cartier watches are as follows: 

  • Stainless steel Drive de Cartier (WSNM0004 and WSNM0009): $6,500
  • Rose gold Drive de Cartier (WGNM0003): $16,800
  • Stainless steel Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat (WSNM0011): $5,850
  • Rose gold Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat (WGNM0006): $14,400
  • Yellow gold Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat (WGNM0011): $14,400
  • Stainless steel Drive de Cartier Second Time Zone Day/Night (WSNM0005): $9,100
  • Rose gold Drive de Cartier Second Time Zone Day/Night (WGNM0005): $19,800
  • Stainless steel Drive de Cartier Moon Phases (WSNM0008): $8,200
  • Rose gold Drive de Cartier Moon Phases (WGNM0008): $18,600
  • Rose gold Drive de Cartier Flying Tourbillon (W4100013): $72,000

Those shopping for a used Drive de Cartier watch can enjoy some solid savings in the secondary market. In 2021, preowned Cartier Drive watches are generally priced as follows: 

  • Preowned steel Drive de Cartier (WSNM0004): Starting at $4,000
  • Preowned steel Drive de Cartier (WSNM0009): Starting at $5,000
  • Preowned rose gold Drive de Cartier (WGNM0003): Starting at $11,500
  • Preowned steel Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat (WSNM0011): Starting at $4,300
  • Preowned rose gold Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat (WGNM0006): Starting at $10,500
  • Preowned yellow gold Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat (WGNM0011): Starting at $12,600
  • Preowned steel Drive de Cartier Second Time Zone Day/Night (WSNM0005): Starting at $6,500
  • Preowned rose gold Drive de Cartier Second Time Zone Day/Night (WGNM0005): Starting at $11,500
  • Preowned steel Drive de Cartier Moon Phases (WSNM0008): Starting at $6,600
  • Rose gold Drive de Cartier Moon Phases (WGNM0008): Starting at $14,000

Cartier released a limited-edition white gold Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat (WGNM0007) in 2017. Only 200 examples were made, each featuring a numbered caseback, and preowned versions in 2021 are typically priced from $10,000 to $17,000.  

The Drive de Cartier Flying tourbillon belongs to the Fine Watchmaking collection, a range of complicated timepieces developed for the serious Cartier collector. Moreover, it boasts the coveted “Poinçon de Genève” certification, which is awarded to watches that are finished and decorated to the highest standards. As such, they are rare to come by, and in 2021, the Drive de Cartier Flying Tourbillon is valued from $85,000 to over $90,000 in the preowned watch market.

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