Cartier Driver 'CPCP'

Though Cartier has produced numerous fine mechanical watches during its 170-plus year history, by the 1990s the brand was known primarily as a producer of quartz pieces. In an effort to rejuvenate their status as a premier manufacture, in 1998 Cartier launched the Collection Privée Cartier Paris, or CPCP for short. The Collection Privée resurrected classic wristwatch designs from the Cartier archives and utilized high-grade mechanical movements from the likes of Piaget, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Girard-Perregaux.  One watch that received the “reissue” treatment was the Driver. Far less known than most other Cartier models, the Driver, specifically Reference 2270, has a very unconventional strap integration, having the fabric pass fully around the wrist unobstructed, with the buckle and closure system integrated into the caseback. The watch itself bears unique features on the dial, including a very distinctive dial typeset, art deco undertones, and lovely soft bezel profile. A beautiful alternative to the Tank, the Driver is a gorgeous piece of design in any format. This yellow-gold CPCP example, however, exists on an entirely different plane. Classic in its proportions and beautifully balanced, it’s an easy sell no matter the wrist.  This piece measures 22mm x 33.5mm in yellow gold and features a unique articulating lug structure that allows the watch to conform to a variety of wrist sizes optimally. This watch is somewhat of a design anomaly in the world of Cartier, which adds to the appeal of the piece. For the collector seeking something out of the ordinary, refined, and always elegant, this is the perfect watch for your wrist.