Ballon Bleu 36mm Automatic Custom Double Row Diamond Bezel Steel Women's Watch WSBB0048-CD2

This particular Ballon Bleu has a custom diamond-set bezel around its 36mm case. The diamonds give the outer edge far more sparkle, yet the familiar dial still gets plenty of attention inside. Polished stainless steel covers the case itself. At 12.1mm thick, the watch has more body than its rounded shape might suggest from a photo. In hand, it comes across as a substantial mechanical watch rather than a delicate jewelry piece.

An automatic Swiss movement runs inside with roughly 38 hours of power reserve. You get the small pleasure of a mechanical seconds hand moving around the dial, along with the winding rotor doing its work inside the case. Cartier uses a solid caseback here, so the movement remains tucked away. That suits this Ballon Bleu rather well. Most of the fun is already happening out front, between the blue hands and unusual crown design.

The polished steel bracelet has an interchangeable construction, which opens up other strap options later. On steel, the Ballon Bleu has a fuller jewelry look around the wrist. The folding clasp disappears beneath the bracelet once closed. Those rounded links also work nicely with the curved case, so there isn’t an abrupt visual break between watch and bracelet.

A Cartier Ballon Bleu is easy to recognize once you know its little tricks. The crown appears tucked into the case. Blue hands sweep across those stretched Roman numerals, and this example adds diamonds around the edge for a brighter finish. Underneath all of it is an automatic movement rather than quartz. For someone drawn to Cartier design and mechanical watches in equal measure, there’s plenty here to enjoy long after the diamonds get your attention.