Introducing: The Ballon Bleu de Cartier In 40mm With An In-House Mechanical Movement

Quick Take When the Ballon Bleu was first released in 2007, it was a smash. You could even call it category-defining. If you wanted a "nice watch" from a reliable, stalwart brand, and you wanted it to be just a little bit different from what had come before, the Ballon Bleu was the move, and it quickly became the it-watch, found on the wrist of every celebrity and well-to-do person in major cities around the globe. It's by far the top selling watch in Cartier's category, and it's not uncommon to see reports suggesting that Cartier sells more Ballon Bleu watches than many other large watchmakers sell overall. So an update to the collection is a big deal. Cartier has just unveiled a totally new 40mm Ballon Bleu with the in-house 1847 MC automatic movement inside. This now joins the 28mm, 33mm, 36mm, and 42mm pieces, rounding out the collection and hitting a missing-until-now sweet spot that should be welcomed by a lot of possible customers. The 40mm Ballon Bleu comes in a few variations at launch. You have your choice of a steel or pink-gold case, with or without diamonds on the bezel, and you can have the watch delivered on either an alligator strap or a matching steel or gold bracelet (the straps and bracelets use a quick-change system, so you can swap them easily at home). There are also some striking new dial options. Both steel and gold can be paired with a dark grey dial, and the steel watch can be had with a bright blue sunburst dial. Prices start at $5,800 and pieces will start arriving at Cartier boutiques and retailers this month. Initial Thoughts I will always love Cartier's shaped watches best. That's just my personal preference, and it's something that I think Cartier does better than any other watchmaker bar none. However, these new Ballon Bleu pieces have me genuinely interested in the line for the first time. In particular, the 40mm steel model with the matching steel bracelet looks like a fantastic everyday alternative to some of the usual suspects in the hybrid sport/dress category like the Rolex Oyster Perpetual. It still has plenty of that signature Cartier panache, but in a round package that's pretty tough to argue with. It's also important to remember that these are not watches primarily targeted at watch enthusiasts, and that's more than just okay. The Ballon Bleu is as popular as it is for good reason, and adding a 40mm model with a bracelet and an in-house movement to the mix is purely a good thing that might help get more people into wearing a fine watch on a daily basis. That said, I'm excited to see these pieces in the metal sometime. Because the Ballon Bleu collection looks more relevant and interesting than ever. The Basics Brand: Cartier Model: Ballon Bleu de Cartie Diameter: 40mm Thickness: 12.45mm Case Material: Steel or pink gold (with or without diamond-set bezel) Dial Color: Silver Indexes: Roman numerals Lume: None Strap/Bracelet: Interchangeable alligator leather straps and metal bracelets The 1847 MC movement. The Movement Caliber: 1847 MC Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date Diameter: 25.6mm Thickness: 3.77mm Power Reserve: 40 hours Winding: Automatic Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph) Jewels: 23 Pricing & Availability Price: $5,800 (steel on strap), $6,300 (steel on bracelet), $14,600 (gold on strap), $29,900 (gold on braclet), $26,300 (gold with diamonds on strap), $40,600 (gold with diamonds on bracelet) Availability: April 2021 (silver dials), December 2021 (grey and blue dials) For more, click here .With an in-house movement and a 40mm case, this is the best Ballon Bleu yet.