The best Cartier watches to buy in the UK (2026)

The best Cartier for most people is the Santos de Cartier: first made in 1904, automatic, and water resistant to 100 metres. If you want the most famous design, buy a Tank: the Tank Must is the least expensive Cartier, and the Tank Française is our favourite for women. For a round watch, the Ballon Bleu.

Every watch here is sold new by Goldsmiths, a UK authorised Cartier retailer. Prices are Goldsmiths' own on the date shown. Every Cartier comes with a 2-year guarantee, plus 6 more years when you register it with Cartier Care, according to Goldsmiths.

How we chose

We looked at every Cartier Goldsmiths has in stock and picked the best of each collection on what you actually get: the design, size, movement, water resistance and price. The facts come from Goldsmiths' and Cartier's own descriptions. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes the price you pay. The guide starts with the least expensive Cartiers and works up.

Cartier's collections explained

Under £4,000: Tank Must, Panthère and Tank Française

Tank Must. The least expensive way into Cartier, and the most famous shape. Goldsmiths' description gives this small model as 29.5mm by 22mm and just 6.6mm thick, with Cartier's High Autonomy quartz movement, a spinel cabochon on the crown and blued-steel hands.

Least expensive CartierCartier Tank Must WSTA0135 · 22mm · Quartz · 30 m water resistant £3,200Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

Cartier Tank 41 watches at Goldsmiths, £3,200 to £34,100. Shop the Tank

Panthère de Cartier. The most jewellery-like Cartier: this mini model is 25mm by 19mm and 6mm thick, on a steel bracelet, with an octagonal crown set with a blue spinel, according to Goldsmiths.

Smallest and most jewellery-likeCartier Panthère De Cartier WSPN0012 · 25 × 19mm · Quartz · 30 m water resistant £3,850Price at Goldsmiths, 26 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

Tank Française. The Tank on a steel bracelet, which makes it an easy everyday watch. Goldsmiths gives this small model as 6.8mm thick, with a sapphire crystal and a silvered sunray dial.

Best for womenCartier Tank Française WSTA0129 · 25.7 × 21.2mm · Quartz · 30 m water resistant £3,850Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

£4,000 to £7,000: Ballon Bleu, Santos-Dumont and Tank Must XL

Ballon Bleu. Cartier's round watch, with its blue cabochon set into the side of the case. This 36mm automatic has a guilloché dial and a 37-hour power reserve, according to Goldsmiths. There's also a smaller 28mm quartz version.

Best round CartierCartier Ballon Bleu De Cartier WSBB0048 · 36mm · Automatic · 30 m water resistant £6,450Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

Santos-Dumont. A dressier take on the Santos, named after the aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont, on an alligator strap.

Cartier Santos-Dumont WSSA0086 · 27mm · Quartz · 30 m water resistant £4,100Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

Tank Must extra-large (automatic). The best Cartier dress watch for men. Goldsmiths gives its case as 41mm by 31mm and only 8.4mm thick, with Cartier's automatic calibre 1847 MC and a date.

Best for menCartier Tank Must WSTA0053 · 31mm · Automatic · 30 m water resistant £5,200Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

£7,000 and over: Santos de Cartier, Tank Louis Cartier and Baignoire

The best Cartier overall: Santos de Cartier. Goldsmiths' description says the Santos was created in 1904 and dedicated to the aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont. This 35mm model has Cartier's self-winding calibre 1847 MC with a 40-hour power reserve, and it's water resistant to 100 metres, so it's the Cartier you can wear for everything.

Best Cartier overallCartier Santos De Cartier WSSA0029 · 35mm · Automatic · 100 m water resistant £7,250Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

For a bigger wrist, the 40mm Santos has the same movement and a date.

Cartier Santos De Cartier WSSA0071 · 40mm · Automatic · 100 m water resistant £7,900Price at Goldsmiths, 28 October 2026 Full specsSee it at Goldsmiths

Tank Louis Cartier and Baignoire. For gold, the Tank Louis Cartier is the Tank in its most traditional form, with a sapphire-set beaded crown, and the Baignoire is one of Cartier's most elegant women's watches.

Cartier or something else?

If you love the Tank's rectangular shape but want to spend less, Longines' DolceVita is the closest alternative: see our best Longines watches. For the full luxury picture, see best luxury watches for women and watch gifts for her.