In recent years, vintage Cartier watches have grown increasingly popular around the world, and many people have begun choosing them for their collections or as everyday watches.
Among them, Cartier watches manufactured before 1970 are special pieces with a historical background different from that of today.
That is precisely why we inspect watches from this period with particular care.
In our more than 20 years of experience examining vintage Cartier watches, we believe that the “verification process” is especially important for watches from this era.
Why Cartier watches from before 1970 require careful verification
Some Cartier watches manufactured before 1970 were produced using movements, cases, and other components supplied by external specialist manufacturers.
Taking advantage of this historical background, there was a period in the past when watches that were not originally Cartier watches were modified and circulated as Cartier watches.
Although such pieces have become extremely rare today, some vintage Cartier watches from this period can be difficult to authenticate and assess for originality.
As a result, we often encounter pieces that cannot be judged based solely on reference materials or appearance.
At Ante, we do not rely on experience alone
Even after more than 20 years of examining Cartier watches, there are pieces for which I do not want to reach a conclusion based solely on my own experience.
That is why Ante never relies on experience alone.
For vintage Cartier watches manufactured before 1970, we always have them verified at Cartier’s Swiss headquarters workshop before offering them to our customers.
The verification process can take anywhere from six months to a year.
Even so, we never omit this process.
What we verify
During Cartier’s verification process, we confirm important points such as the following:
- Whether genuine parts are used
- Whether the piece is acceptable for service at an authorized Cartier service center
- Whether the piece can be maintained by an authorized Cartier service center in the future
This process has important meaning for us.
It is an essential quality standard for delivering watches to our customers with confidence.
For more details on the standards Ante uses when preparing watches for sale, please see “Thinking beyond the sale. That is Ante’s quality standard.”
Look at the “verification process,” not the “price”
What I most want to convey about vintage Cartier watches manufactured before 1970 is this:
It is not the price,
but the verification process the watch went through before being offered for sale
that matters.
Even when two watches appear to be the same model, the level of confidence they inspire can vary greatly depending on what verification each one underwent before being sold.
For more details on what we consider more important than price when choosing a vintage Cartier watch, please see “What Matters More Than Price.”
What makes a vintage Cartier watch truly valuable
When considering a vintage Cartier watch,
please look not only at
“where you buy it,”
but also at
“what kind of verification the watch has undergone.”
We believe that the accumulation of these careful checks is what leads to a watch you can enjoy with confidence for 10, 20, or more years to come.
Ante's Philosophy
The value of a vintage Cartier watch cannot be judged by its appearance or price alone.
What history has that watch passed through? What verification has it undergone? And who took responsibility for preparing it for sale?
We believe that this “invisible value” is the most important factor in choosing a vintage Cartier watch with confidence.
