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Every Watch Tells a Story: Nelli’s Cartier Roadster Every Watch Tells a Story: Nelli’s Cartier Roadster

Every Watch Tells a Story: Nelli’s Cartier Roadster

Time+Tide

Editor’s Note: We recently presented our readers with the opportunity to submit their very own written “Every Watch Tells a Story” where they reflect on a timepiece that is very special to them and the narrative behind it. Here is Nelli’s (@tiffanyticks) tale of how she arrived at the Cartier Roadster and how gender-expectations confounded others in regards to her choice of watch.

For a petite lady with a bony wrist, choosing a watch is always interesting. Have you seen a young guy in a suit too big, and thought to yourself: “Is he wearing his dad’s jacket?”

Over the years I realised that the largest watch I can get away with is a 38mm, to avoid looking like a kid showing off her dad’s watch.

I got fascinated with Cartier Roadster after seeing one in a vintage watch store. The tonneau shape, the simple silver Roman numerals and an easy-to-read date covered by the cyclops – the whole package really appealed to me. My research revealed several types of men’s Cartier Roadster watches – with and without the “roulette dial”, usually black or silver in colour.

And then I saw a blue dial Cartier, and my quest began.

By chance I saw one being advertised on eBay, and, naturally, I was very cautious. To my surprise, the seller was very understanding and accommodating in taking additional photos of the watch, with specific times and dates, as well as answering my questions one after another.

In the end I bought the watch, and he shipped it via the express mail with signature and insurance. A mix up between the post office and delivery driver resulted in the parcel being dumped in the plain view outside the door, with total disregard to the request for signature on arrival. The postal service said that the watch was delivered – but when I got home, it wasn’t there.

 

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In panic, I contacted the seller and asked him to start an investigation. Luckily, the neighbor collected the parcel, and gave it to me later in the evening. After the mixup got resolved, I rang the seller and he was in total shock that I was not a man, but a woman. He turned out to be a watch enthusiast of many years, but never met a woman with a similar interest.

It’s such a stereotype that women don’t understand men’s watches. Watches and cars are assumed to be a “men’s” thing and diamonds and designer bags are for women. I once popped in to a reputable jewellery shop and a sales lady led me to the “bling” display, and when I asked her to show me men’s watches instead, for me, her response was “But you look SO FEMININE! Men’s watches? Every woman loves diamonds”… But I digress.

This Roadster is about 17 years old, it was rarely worn by the previous owner. The hands still have the lume but not as bright. And the rather rare spectacular blue sunray dial is just the most remarkable. In the sun, it gleams vibrant and deep. The Roadster is a heavy watch, with either a bracelet or a cordura strap. I prefer the bracelet for the everyday use, the strap makes this sporty watch more dressy. The bracelet and strap are quick switch – easy to swap. At 38mm, it covers my entire wrist, with no bracelet visible. I took out ALL removable links to be able to wear it. Yet it still looks really good.

A standard ETA 2892-A2 movement makes it easy to service and it is water-resistant to 100m. It looks really good on a girly wrist, and looks really awesome on a bloke’s hairy arm. At 15mm the links are too big with no micro adjust. Like some ETA-powered watches the rotor is noticeably noisy, which is surprising considering how solid the case is. The Roadster wasn’t a very popular watch according to the Cartier watch enthusiasts. To me – I like the elegance, style and precision – it is a great piece.