How to choose a vintage Cartier Panthère watch at the right price?

We have listed for you the different sales of Cartier Panthèr watchese for 10 years, in auctions or sales to vintage professionals.

The models

First of all, you need to know which model of watch that interests you. The models may differ depending on the models (small or standard) as well as the materials (gold and steel or all gold).

Different models exist: 

Panthère de Cartier: this is the classic model that was first introduced in the 1980s. It is characterized by its rectangular or square case, its soft bracelet links. The case is available in a small or medium model.

Panthère de Cartier Mini: This version is a smaller, more delicate version of the original Panthère de Cartier. It is often preferred by those with thinner wrists or who prefer a more discreet watch.

Panthère de Cartier Manchette: this fairly recent model (2019) is distinguished by its cuff bracelet, which elegantly wraps the wrist. It offers a distinctive and bold look, while retaining the iconic mesh pattern, is a very jewelry variation, like a cuff which retains the flexibility of the panther mesh.

Panthère de Cartier Ronde: Some models display the Panthère de Cartier or its coat, with a round case rather than rectangular or square, but is it still a Panthère de Cartier watch if you're looking for an iconic one? 

Panthère de Cartier Joaillerie: a version adorned with diamonds or other precious stones, adding an extra touch of luxury to the already elegant aesthetic of the watch, making it a true piece of jewelry

The evolution of prices of Panthère de Cartier watches in 10 years

It is more difficult to establish a rating over time for Cartier watches, more sensitive to trends than iconic collections of Jewelry. The variability of the state, the number of variants which require verification of the mechanism and the materials are all factors to take into account. Additional elements to also be valued are the conservation of the original box and certificate, the date on which the service was carried out (or guaranteed) and any element allowing recognition of a more popular or limited edition model.

However, the trend is quite interesting for promoting the Panthère de Cartier watch model over time.

On the gold and steel models, we were able to observe prices between €800 and €1500 from 2014 to 2019. From 2020, the appeal is much more marked with sales passing the €2000 mark and even exceeding €4000. €. This therefore translates into a multiplication of the average price of 1,6 in ten years.

For the gold models, the watches are traded at auction for around €2000 to €3800 from 2014 to 2020, to exceed €5000 to €8000 from 2021. Their value has therefore increased multiple times.liée by 2,6 in almost a decade. The best sales are justified, for example, by their condition, the original Cartier papers including recent complete overhauls.

Table of some auctions

Panthère watches all gold

The appeal of Cartier watches 

Cartier, a name inseparable from luxury and innovation, is one of the rare houses equally recognized in the field of jewelry and watchmaking. It made history in 1904 with the creation of the first wristwatch, attached to the wrist rather than the pocket watch, at the request of the aviator Alberto Santos Dumont. 

In recent years, vintage Cartier watches have regained the popularity they deserve. Collectors now recognize the historical value and impact of these iconic models, both for their elegant design and their watchmaking precision. 

The Tank collection, with its clean lines and rectangular shapes, remains an undisputed favorite among watch enthusiasts, while the Santos and Pasha collections also enjoy great renown. Cartier's vintage models have become coveted collector's items, admired for their timeless elegance and historical significance. Among these watchmaking treasures, the Crash collection particularly stands out, becoming one of the most sought-after vintage watches on the market. This is evidenced by the remarkable sale of an original Crash Cartier from 1967 bearing the words “London” on the dial, sold for the impressive sum of $1,65 million in 2022.

Similarly, a Panthère watch was valued in 2018 at around $19,000 while in 2023, it was valued at $26,000.

The history of the Panthère de Cartier watch

The Panthère de Cartier watch went on sale in the 80s. It can be compared to a variation of the Santos watch, the very first wristwatch designed by Cartier in 1904, by the square shape of its dial, on which comes add a very flexible mesh bracelet which suggests the gait of the panther. The success was immediate, even though it was not a watch with particular technical characteristics. Nearly 600,000 watches of this model are sold, one of the most popular jewelry watches in the world.

Production stopped for around ten years, only to resume at the end of the 2010s and make this creation even closer to jewelry than to a watch. The brand reinvents the links of its bracelet, in double or triple, to surround around the wrist or larger, cuff with an off-center watch. The meshes can be of different materials to give the impression of panther fur, and are openwork to play with the skin. More than ever, this model is just as much a watch strap as a wristwatch!