Cartier, long known for producing timepieces that captured the stylish zeitgeist of their respective eras, grabbed the watch world’s attention in the go-go 1980s with the introduction of the Pasha in 1985, a watch based on a historical model from 1932. The model’s intriguing story continues this year with the introduction at Watches & Wonders 2020 of the all-new Cartier Pasha de Cartier collection, encompassing models for both gents and ladies.

Pasha de Cartier 41mm in yellow gold

The story of the Pasha in a nutshell: The first one was named after the client who commissioned it, the Sultan (or “Pasha”) of Marrakech, who approached Louis Cartier about creating a luxurious watch that he could wear for his royal duties but also wear in the swimming pool without damaging it; this model, with its groundbreaking screwed-down crown cap attached to a small chain, is regarded as Cartier’s first truly waterproof watch. It joined the regular collection in 1943 and ebbed and flowed in popularity until it was redesigned in 1985 by the legendary Gérald Genta, who expanded on it to develop the feminine Miss Pasha series. The Pasha is notable for its unconventional design in which a round case and dial is offset by a square minute track ? essentially, Cartier created a hit by fitting a square peg into a round hole. The new Pasha de Cartier collection revives the highlights of the 1980s design and adds some contemporary flair, along with modern in-h...