As one of the world’s leading luxury watch brands, Cartier boasts an impressive assortment of iconic designs. There’s the Santos watch, made originally for Brazilian pioneer aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, the Tank watch, fashioned after the military armored vehicle and the Panthere watch with an instantly recognizable link bracelet, just to name a few. Another famous Cartier watch is the Pasha, created for the Pasha of Marrakesh.
In the early 20th century, parts of Morocco was a protectorate of France. During this time, Thami El Glaoui, the Pasha of Marrakesh (above) aligned himself with the French. As a result, he amassed great wealth (mostly from questionable practices) during his time in power, and by some accounts, he was one of the richest men in the world. His personal style and charm, as well as his prodigality with his wealth, made him many friends among the international fashionable set of the day. He visited the European capitals often. He counted people like Charlie Chaplin, Colette and Winston Churchill as friends and hosted them in his Marrakesh – a city he invested in extravagantly to beautify with palaces, golf courses, hotels, and lavish gardens. He treated his European guests to lavish banquets and offered them expensive gifts.
In the early ’30s, the Pasha of Marrakesh commissioned a watch from the French Maison. Aside for a penchant for the finer things in life, the Pasha was also an active man. So he requested that his Cartier watch be elegant, yet capable of being submerged during his regular swims and daily bathing, without having to worry about its functionality or precision. It is considered to be the first waterproof timepiece from Cartier. Water resistant watches were still a new concept during this era (remember the Rolex Oyster only made its debut in 1926).
Cartier Pasha 18k yellow gold, 1985 (private collection).
However, Louis Cartier did build the Pasha a solid gold water-resistant round watch. The custom Cartier was fitted with screw-down caseback, a chain-secured cap protecting the winding crown, and a protective grid on top of the face. In 1943, the timepiece was introduced into the official Cartier collection. In 1985, the legendary watch designer Gérald Genta designed a version of the Cartier Pasha whose form is still celebrated to this day. Throughout the years, a number of models under the name Pasha de Cartier have been presented, and, as a result, an overwhelming selection of new and used Pasha timepieces can be discovered today.
While the fate of Thami El Glaoui’s Cartier watch is unknown, according to a 2003 Robb Report article, Stanislas de Quercize, the President and CEO of Cartier North America at that time, confirmed that Cartier is actively looking for the watch to add to its corporate collection.
Later the French Maison created the Pasha Collection. A collection of cufflinks, luxury writing instruments, lighters and perfumes. Like their jewels and watches, They all are a signature of unique taste in fine accessories. A signature of pure elegance.
Also named after the iconic watch, the French Maison introduced in 1992 Pasha de Cartier, a beautiful, classic fougere fragrance for men. Created by Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, the now legenday fragrance had top notes of lavender, mandarin, mint, caraway and anise. The middle notes are coriander, and Brazilian rosewood. And base notes of labdanum, sandelwood, patchouli and oakmoss. A timeless classic. In its collection Cartier also offers several versions of the first perfume. In addition to Edition Noire (a modern fougere with green and citrus notes, amber, and cedar) and Edition Noire Sport (an energetic fougere with citrus, marine accords, and cedar), the new, contemporary and intense version, Pasha de Cartier Parfum , is available from February 2020.
Pasha de Cartier Parfum is designed for contemporary and elegant men – to those who want to be noticed. It is adorned with epithets such as being bold, sophisticated, and powerful. The fragrance is a modern version of the original in a parfum concentration that provides additional depth, intensity, and lasting permanence.
Created by the Maison’s in-house perfumer Mathilde Laurent, the contemporary fougere composition with woody and ambery features includes notes of patchouli, sandalwood, fir balsam, labdanum, benzoin, ambrocenide molecule, and tonka bean. Mathilde tried to preserve the characteristic aromatic base of the original Pasha fragrance in this creation, but make it new with woody and amber notes using the best ingredients from around the world.
When creating a new version of the iconic perfume, special attention was paid to the design of the flacon. Named and inspired by the iconic Pasha watch, the design of the flacon was really inspired on Pasha cufflinks and luxury writing instruments, with a blue sapphire cabochon, a unique Cartier symbol. It also features other iconic Cartier hallmarks including the Trinity ring, gadroons, and the famous red box.
When you focus on designs with diamonds and other precious gems, and have princesses and actresses commissioning special works with serpents, tigers, and other exotic animals – you know you’re dealing with one of the world’s most luxurious brands!
Cartier watches are available at Cartier Boutiques and selected stores worldwide. Pasha de Cartier Parfum is available in quantities of 50 and 100ml at Cartier Boutiques and selected stores worldwide. Come into the beautiful world of Cartier.
Yakymour 