Cartier’s Baignoire Watch Is Having a Moment

An early version of the Cartier Baignoire was introduced in 1912. But this summer, as one editor said, ‘It’s the talk of the town.’

Even before Cartier’s new Baignoire Mini bangle watch arrived online and in stores around the world in late June, there were waiting lists of prospective buyers.

And by mid-August, the versions in 18-karat yellow or rose gold, priced at $11,800, were no longer available on Cartier’s website; the jeweler said they would appear again in November.

“This is unusual for a women’s watch,” said Paige Reddinger, the watch and jewelry editor at Robb Report magazine. The race to get a new timepiece, she said, is more typical for men’s limited-edition mechanical timepieces or a coveted Rolex or Audemars Piguet model.