An oval has nowhere to hide. Any lean, any flat spot, any bracelet that does not run through the middle of the case is visible at arm's length.
Because the eye traces the whole outline and compares the two ends without being asked to, so a case a millimetre out of true looks like a watch that has been sat on. The Baignoire comes in a small 31 x 24.6 mm and a large 34.9 x 26.7 mm, both quartz, from $429 with shipping included. The second check is the bracelet center line: it has to leave from the middle of the oval and run straight when the watch is laid flat, which is how we photograph it.
Round cases forgive a little. An oval does not, because the eye traces the outline all the way round and compares the two ends without being asked to. A case that is a millimeter out of true looks like a watch that has been sat on, even when the finish is perfect.
The second check is the bracelet center line. The bracelet should leave the case from the middle of the oval, not from the top of it, and it should run straight when the watch is laid flat. A bracelet set high is the most common error on this family and the easiest to see: put the watch on a table and look along it.
That is also why we photograph it on a flat surface rather than on a wrist. On a wrist, a lean can disappear into the curve of the arm. On a table it cannot. The cabochon and the dial printing are the last two checks, and at this size the printing is small enough that a soft wordmark is the whole difference.
We do not have our own frames for this line yet, and we will not borrow another seller's picture to fill the space. The three frames we shoot on every Baignoire — flat oval, bracelet line, dial at 2x — are listed below.
All CartierMetals are quoted per order. Plating tone is confirmed in daylight on the actual watch before dispatch.
Short list, because on an oval most errors are structural rather than cosmetic.
Measured across both axes and photographed flat. A lean is obvious at arm's length and cannot be polished out.
The bracelet leaves from the middle of the oval and runs straight when the watch is laid on a table.
Color, height and seat. On a small case the cabochon is proportionally larger, so it reads at a glance.
Small dial, thin printing. The wordmark and the minute track are the parts that decide it.
Two oval sizes, both quartz. Case dimensions as stated by the line.
| Reference | Case | Movement | Bracelet | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WGBA0042 | 31 × 24.6 mm | High-grade quartz | Bracelet or strap, per order | $429 |
| 34.9 mm — no ref published | 34.9 × 26.7 mm | High-grade quartz | Bracelet or strap, per order | $449 |
| WGBA0019 | 31 × 24.6 mm, rose gold, mini | High-grade quartz | Bracelet or strap, per order | On enquiry |
| WGBA0020 | 31 × 24.6 mm, rose gold mini, leather | High-grade quartz | Leather strap | On enquiry |
Checked on 2026-10-19 · reference numbers from dealer listings · prices include shipping · sample figures for layout review
Not part of the Santos competition. One workshop, one build, so the inspection carries the weight.
| Line | What it covers here | Where it stands | We quote it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| AF / CR | Both oval sizes | Only line listing the Baignoire we can verify | Always, for this family |
| BV | Santos only | Does not list Baignoire references | Not quoted here |
| GF | Santos only | Does not list Baignoire references | Not quoted here |
Dial up, on a table, with the bracelet laid straight. This is the frame that shows a lean.
Case from the side, so the oval profile and the cabochon height are both visible.
Straight on at two times life size, which is the only way to judge the printing at this size.
Small is 31 × 24.6 mm and sits inside the wrist like a piece of jewelry. Large is 34.9 × 26.7 mm and reads as a watch. If you want to read the time without turning your wrist, take the large.
Less than you would expect. The case is short lug to lug, so it sits flat rather than standing up like a round watch of the same width.
The bracelet is the version most people picture, and it is also the harder one to get right because the center line has to be exact. The strap is more forgiving.
It is sold as one. On a wrist under 6.5 inches it reads as a dress watch rather than a small watch.
The references we list are gold-toned. Steel is quoted per order when the line has it.
Two to four days to confirm, seven to twelve days in transit. QC frames before dispatch.