Cartier Pasha GRID

[Watchwatcher]

Cartier Pasha Grid

In the 1930s, the Pasha of Marrakech asked Louis Cartier to make him a watch he could wear in his swimming pool.

Specs:

Mfr: Cartier

Model: Pasha Grid

Face: Silver / guilloche

Date: at 5:00

Bracelet: stainless steel, hidden butterfly clasp

Diameter (excluding crown): 38mm

Thickness: 12mm

Bracelet width: 20mm

Movement: eta automatic w/hack

Crystal: Sapphire

Back: sapphire display

Other features:

Removable stainless steel “grid” crystal protector

Screw down cabochon linked to case with s/s hinge

Comments:

There seem to be many low quality reps of the Pasha circulating, but I must say that despite a few obvious flaws, this Pasha Grid rep (carried by LVIP, ioffer) is not only a reasonable facsimile, which could at a glance be mistaken for the real article, but also a watch with a unique history. I had the opportunity to examine a genuine one and the major difference is that its case is perhaps 2mm thinner and, of course, the fit and finish is impeccable. I would note that the bracelet on this rep is really top notch, with a very smooth high quality finish, no 'sharp' edges and smooth as silk.

Criticisms:

Poor bezel pearl (that's obvious). Min/hr hands may be too light a shade of blue. Grid is tricky to reinstall once removed and "touchy" as compared to the real one -- nonetheless quite unique. Real Pasha has a solid back. Cabochon is not too bad, actually appears much darker indoors, but does not have the sparkle of a real one. Case is thicker than the real one -- the biggest discrepancy imo, and consequently adds some "boxiness" which is a typical flaw with most reps.

Overall, this rep is a fascinating conversation piece and enjoyable to wear. I’ve wanted to put up a couple pics of this and finally got around to doing so… here goes:

History:

The most remarkable watches are often one-of-a-kind pieces, custom-made for clients of means. This is true of the original Cartier Pasha watch, which Louis Cartier created in 1931 for Thami El Glaoui, the pasha of Marrakech. The watch was an early attempt to address needs that most busy, successful modern people will recognize.

El Glaoui possessed a pronounced taste for life’s finer things, and he led a relatively active life, keeping fit with daily swims in his palace pool. Seeking a timepiece that was durable enough to withstand constant submersion in water but elegant enough to wear when meeting celebrities and heads of state, he turned to Cartier for a one-of-a-kind solution. In response, Cartier created the Pasha, a gold wristwatch that could be rendered watertight by a case that screwed shut and a chain-secured cap that fit into the crown.

After delivering the timepiece to the pasha, who was ousted from power in the 1950s, the Cartier company lost track of it. The whereabouts of the exquisite timepiece, which features a protective grille pattern on its face and an 18-karat solid gold case engraved with the numeral 1, remain unknown. "Maybe he gave it to an heir, or a friend," suggests Stanislas de Quercize, president and CEO of Cartier North America. He adds that Cartier is actively seeking the watch for its corporate collection. "We have hopes of finding it and buying it back."

Still, the memory of the vanished timepiece burned brightly in the minds of Cartier’s stewards, who eventually launched a Pasha line of watches in 1985. The neo-Pasha was round, a shape that set it apart from the rectangular, square, and oval cases of other Cartier watches. Ideal for sophisticated beachgoers, the Pasha was water-resistant to a depth of 100 meters as well as sand-proofed, and it was available with either a gold bracelet or a honey-colored, water-resistant leather strap.

In the years that followed, the Pasha line was expanded far beyond the two 1985 models. Currently, more than 50 different limited edition Pasha models are available, including a new tourbillon priced at approximately $145,000. Past models have included the day/date Moon phase Pasha, which appeared on the cover of our July 1989 issue. Another enduring favorite is the golf version of the watch, which can record a foursome’s scores. Buttons marked with different-colored gemstones—a sapphire, an emerald, a yellow sapphire, and a ruby—distinguish the players. This watch earned a featured spot in Robb Report’s 1996 Ultimate Gift Guide, with a listed price of $79,300.

Neither the Moroccan leader nor Louis Cartier could have predicted that the unique, purpose-built timepiece would someday inspire an entire line of magnificent wristwatches. But 70 years later, the Pasha is a permanent part of the Cartier family. "The Pasha embodies all the values of Cartier," says de Quercize. "It is here to stay forever."

Excerpted from Robb Report

“Back Page: Pashas Past and Present”

Sheila Gibson Stoodley

11/03/2003

PICS

Genuine:

Rep:

Note screw-down cabochon (which is actually just the round gemstone) also known as a “carbuncle,” which is attached by a link to a small hinge on the case.

Removable Grid, which sets into the inside of the bezel and twists CW to lock into place.

Guilloche closeup

Unidentified movement, 25j, purported to be eta

[END]

[JosePR]

i have a 2 pasha myself, both are relatively cheap($70) but nice looking rep, One is a crono, works totaly fine, had it for a year, and a regular auto, new but this one is really noisy watch

[Watchwatcher]

hi, just curious, are either of your pasha like the one i have pictured--with the grid. i've seen several pashas, but very few with the removable grid. this one also has an eta movt.