The subsidiary seconds dial on the Cartier Calibre Diver is very legible with a great looking matte white hand. The hour and minute hands might have been widened just a bit with more lume for the diver look, in my opinion, but isn’t bad the way it is. Of course, there is the “open date window,” which I am not in love with, but I’ve learned to put up with it on otherwise nice dials such as the Calibre. Over the dial is a slightly domed sapphire crystal. It works nicely enough, but I think it could benefit from additional anti-reflective (AR) coating.
Inside the Cartier Calibre Diver is the same movement as in the standard Calibre, which is the Cartier in-house made caliber 1904MC. Also known as the 1904-PS MC, the movement has a power reserve of 48 hours and operates at 4Hz. At about 4mm thick, it is attractive and Cartier’s main workhorse movement, designed to power many of its watches. Of course, you can’t see it through the rear of the watch, but that is part of the “dive” watch character of the Cartier Calibre Diver.
As of 2014, this solid 18k rose gold version of the Cartier Calibre Diver is the most high-end model available. There isn’t one of these available on a bracelet, but the other Cartier Calibre Diver models are. In my humble opinion, the Calibre should be matched with a bracelet to complete the look, but for the snuggest fit and most sporty wear, you can’t beat the rubber strap. It is a pretty comfortable watch, and when you must “play” while still wearing gold this is the way to go.
Of course, the steel and two-tone Cartier Calibre Diver watches are going to probably be a bit more popular. The steel on steel bracelet Cartier Calibre Diver might end up being the most popular model with its “Submariner style” steel and black looks. While the Calibre bracelet is great and looks nice, Cartier does not at this time offer a fancy micro adjust system to compete with those offered by other companies such as Rolex and Omega.
Cartier benefits from a name that many people want and the Cartier Calibre Diver is a means to give men looking for a sports watch a way to stay in the Cartier brand family with an elegantly designed and genuinely durable timepiece. It might not be used for actual diving, but Cartier knows that. Very few luxury dive watches actually are.
As a lifestyle item that offers both design and prestigious name recognition, the Cartier Calibre Diver is successful. Prices start at $8,200 for the Cartier Calibre Diver in steel on a strap. That is up from the $7,450 starting price of a standard Calibre on an alligator strap. Price for the Cartier Calibre Diver in steel on a bracelet is $8,900, while the two-tone steel and gold model on a strap is $10,600 and $13,000 on a two-tone bracelet. Price for this ref CRW7100052 (W7100052) Cartier Calibre Diver watch in 18k rose gold is $28,100. cartier.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Cartier
>Model: Calibre Diver
>Price: $8,200 – $28,100
>Size: 42mm
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Guy who can’t decide between the name prestige of a Cartier and a sporty dive-style watch.
>Best characteristic of watch: Elegant design mixed with genuine utility. The very-thin-for-a-dive-watch case is highly appealing.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Hands could be a bit more bold for a dive watch. Could benefit from a bit more AR-coating on the crystal.