The Appeal of Vintage Cartier: Why I Chose Cartier After More Than 20 Years of Working with Watches
Over the past 20 years, I have seen countless vintage watches.
Since I was 15, I've been collecting pocket watches, studying the structure of mechanical watches, and have been involved in this world, fascinated by movements and the craftsmanship.
Currently at Ante, we primarily feature vintage Cartier watches.
The reason for this is not simply because I like the Cartier brand.
After many years of observing watches, I couldn't exclude the Cartier brand from my selection.
My standards for evaluating watches have changed.
When I first became interested in watches, I was drawn to movements and complex mechanisms.
However, after more than 20 years of working with vintage watches, my standards have gradually shifted.
They must be reliable for everyday use.
They must be able to be repaired for a long time.
And their design must not feel outdated even after decades.
I've come to realize that watches that are loved for a long time share these common characteristics.
And the brand that fulfilled these conditions at the highest level was Cartier.
Cartier is a brand that has mastered design.
Cartier's iconic "Tank" watch was born in 1917.
Even today, more than 100 years later, its design hardly feels old.
The beauty when viewed from the front.
The beauty when worn on the wrist.
The case line when viewed from the side.
There are very few watches that are beautiful from every angle.
It is a watch, but also a piece of craftsmanship and jewelry.
I believe this consistent design philosophy is Cartier's greatest appeal.
Cartier is not a watch to choose based on its movement.
In the world of vintage watches, the rarity of movements and complex mechanisms are sometimes highly valued.
Of course, these are also major appeals of watches.
On the other hand, Cartier has long been a brand that emphasizes the overall completeness of the watch.
And the ability to continue using it with repairs over a long period.
The value of Cartier lies in the completeness that encompasses all of these aspects.
We elaborate on Cartier's philosophy in watchmaking in "Cartier is not a watch to choose based on its movement.".
Its simplicity ensures long-term usability.
A watch is not complete the moment you purchase it.
10 years later.
20 years later.
Its true value lies in its ability to be used reliably even beyond that.
Many of Cartier's vintage models feature simple designs and excellent maintainability.
Even today, consultation for repairs and maintenance for many vintage models is available through official service centers.
Furthermore, depending on their condition, even Cartier pocket watches from over 100 years ago can be serviced.
There are not many brands that continue to support their products for such a long period.
At Ante, we also value this philosophy and commercialize products with post-sale repairs and maintenance in mind.
The reason I continue to choose Cartier.
Now, after many years of observing watches, what I consider important is very simple.
A watch should be:
Beautiful.
Easy to use.
Durable enough to be used for a long time with continued repairs.
And have a design that still looks beautiful even 100 years from now.
Cartier is one of the few brands that achieves all of these at a high level.
That is why Ante currently focuses on vintage Cartier watches.
We also provide more details on what we consider more important than price when choosing a vintage Cartier in "More Important Than Price: Criteria for Choosing a Vintage Cartier".
Ante's Philosophy
An excellent vintage watch is not solely judged by its complex mechanisms.
It is about a design that is loved across eras.
A construction that allows for long-term repairs.
And the ability to be used reliably for decades to come.
We believe that a watch possessing all of these qualities is truly a valuable vintage watch.
