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Cartier Pasha

Every other Cartier watch whispers. The Pasha announces itself. Born from a commission to build one of the world's first waterproof wristwatches, the Pasha de Cartier arrived with features no luxury watch had before: a screw down crown cap attached to the case by a chain, a protective grid over t...

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Same Day DeliveryCartier Pasha
Sale price49,000.00 AED

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The Origin of the Pasha de Cartier

The Pasha has one of the most colourful origin stories in watchmaking. In the 1930s, the Pasha of Marrakech, a powerful and flamboyant ruler in Morocco, asked Cartier to create a wristwatch he could wear while swimming. At the time, making a luxury wristwatch waterproof was a genuine engineering challenge. Round cases sealed better than the square and rectangular ones Cartier was known for, so Louis Cartier designed a round watch with a screw down crown cap, a protective metal grid over the crystal, and a chain linking the cap to the case so it wouldn't be lost.

That original commission became the foundation for what would enter the Cartier catalogue in 1943 as a round, water resistant timepiece. But the Pasha as we know it today really took shape in 1985, when the legendary watch designer Gérald Genta reimagined it as a full collection. Genta kept the signature crown cap and chain, the round case, and the Arabic numerals, but gave the Pasha a sportier, more contemporary proportion that resonated with the bold aesthetic of the 1980s. The Pasha became the watch of choice for people who found the Tank too restrained and the Santos too conventional. It attracted musicians, athletes, and tastemakers who wanted something from Cartier that didn't look like anything else from Cartier.

After being discontinued for nearly a decade, the Pasha returned in 2020 with a comprehensive update that preserved its character while adding modern engineering. The current collection is the best version of the Pasha ever produced, combining its distinctive 1985 design language with the practical innovations Cartier has developed for the Santos and other modern collections.

The Modern Pasha de Cartier Collection

35mm: The Mid Size Pasha

The 35mm Pasha sits at 9.37mm thick and is designed as a genuinely unisex size. On a woman's wrist it offers a sporty, confident presence that's larger than most women's watches without being overwhelming. On a man's wrist it reads as a refined, understated choice, particularly suited to those who prefer not to wear oversized watches. The 35mm uses the same 1847 MC automatic calibre as the 41mm but drops the date window, giving the dial a cleaner, more symmetrical appearance.

Available in stainless steel and rose gold, the 35mm Pasha also comes in diamond set versions with brilliant cut stones on the bezel. Like all modern Pasha models, it includes both a steel bracelet and a leather strap with QuickSwitch interchangeability and SmartLink bracelet adjustment.

41mm: The Full Size Pasha

The 41mm is the primary men's size and the one that most closely captures the bold spirit of the original 1985 collection. At 9.55mm thick, it sits surprisingly slim on the wrist for a 41mm round watch with 100 metres of water resistance. The dial features a date window at 4:30, a silver flinqué pattern with stamped guilloché, and blued steel diamond shaped hands with Arabic numerals at the quarters.

The 41mm is available in stainless steel, yellow gold, and two tone (steel with yellow gold bezel). The yellow gold version with a dark blue alligator strap is one of the most striking watches in Cartier's entire current catalogue. The anthracite (dark grey) dial option, introduced shortly after the 2020 relaunch, has become particularly popular for its modern, understated character.

Pasha Skeleton

The Pasha Skeleton is where Cartier's jewellery heritage and mechanical watchmaking converge most dramatically. Available in 41mm, the skeleton versions expose the movement through the dial while retaining the Pasha's signature Arabic numerals and minute track, integrated directly into the movement bridges. The hand wound 9624 MC calibre offers 50 hours of power reserve and is visible through both the dial side and the sapphire caseback.

The steel skeleton Pasha is accessible by skeleton watch standards, while the white gold diamond set skeleton tourbillon represents the pinnacle of Cartier's haute horlogerie work. These are collector's pieces that showcase why Cartier should be taken as seriously as any traditional Swiss watchmaker.

Pasha Chronograph

The Pasha Chronograph adds a stopwatch function to the 41mm case, with subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. Available in steel with silver, grey, and blue green dial options, the chronograph is the sportiest expression of the Pasha and appeals to buyers who want Cartier's design sensibility with genuine tool watch functionality. The chronograph Pasha was reintroduced in 2021 and has steadily built a following among collectors who appreciate its distinctive look compared to the more common round chronographs from other brands.

What Makes the Pasha Different from Other Cartier Watches

The Pasha's personality is unlike anything else in Cartier's lineup, and understanding what makes it different helps determine whether it's the right watch for you.

Against the Santos, the Pasha is rounder, bolder, and more visually assertive. The Santos is a square watch with clean geometric lines that blend into any context. The Pasha demands more attention with its crown cap, chain, and Arabic numerals. Both are sporty watches with 100 metres of water resistance and QuickSwitch/SmartLink systems, but the Santos is the safer choice for everyday versatility while the Pasha is the choice for people who want their watch to make a statement.

Against the Ballon Bleu, the Pasha is more structured and masculine in its design language. Both are round Cartier watches, but the Ballon Bleu flows and curves organically while the Pasha is architectural, with its polished bezel, fluted crown cap, and military inspired numerals. The Ballon Bleu leans elegant and refined; the Pasha leans confident and bold.

Against the Tank and the Panthère, the Pasha is an entirely different category. Those are dress watches defined by restraint and elegance. The Pasha is a sport luxury watch that brings energy and personality to the wrist. If the Tank is a tuxedo and the Panthère is an evening dress, the Pasha is a perfectly tailored leather jacket.

The Pasha's Defining Features

The Crown Cap and Chain

No other luxury watch in production uses this feature. The screw down crown cap, attached to the case by a delicate chain, was designed for waterproofing in the 1930s and has remained a Pasha signature ever since. On the modern Pasha, the cap is topped with a synthetic blue spinel cabochon and sits flush against the case at the four o'clock position. It's the single most recognisable detail on the watch and the element that makes the Pasha instantly identifiable from across a room.

Arabic Numerals

While nearly every other Cartier watch uses Roman numerals, the Pasha uses Arabic numerals at the quarter hours. This was part of the original design brief, reflecting the Moroccan commission's cultural context, and it gives the Pasha a more casual, sporty character than its siblings. The numerals are stamped into the dial on current models, creating a subtle three dimensional effect that adds depth to the flinqué pattern.

QuickSwitch and SmartLink

Like the Santos, the modern Pasha comes with both a steel bracelet and a leather strap, swappable in seconds via Cartier's QuickSwitch system. The SmartLink bracelet adjustment lets you add or remove links without tools. This gives you two completely different looks from a single watch: sporty and robust on the bracelet, refined and dressy on the leather strap.

Pasha Value and Investment

The Pasha occupies an interesting position in the secondary market. Pre owned steel models are available from around AED 7,000 to AED 20,000 depending on the reference and condition, making them among the most accessible entry points into serious Cartier watchmaking. The most popular reference, the WSPA0013, holds steady at around AED 11,000 to AED 12,000 on the secondary market.

The Pasha's investment story is about growing recognition. For years, collectors overlooked the Pasha in favour of the more famous Santos and Tank. The 2020 relaunch has brought renewed attention to the collection, and appreciation is building as buyers discover that the Pasha offers Cartier's full design heritage and engineering (in house movement, 100 metres water resistance, QuickSwitch, SmartLink) at a lower entry point than comparable Santos models. For buyers in Dubai, the UAE's 5% VAT provides an additional cost advantage compared to European prices.

Pairing the Pasha with Cartier Jewellery

The Pasha's bold personality calls for equally confident jewellery pairings. The Juste un Clou is the most natural companion: its industrial nail shape matches the Pasha's assertive character perfectly, and the combination creates a wrist stack that reads as intentional and powerful. The Love bracelet also works well, particularly in yellow gold alongside a yellow gold or two tone Pasha.

For men wearing the 41mm Pasha, a single Juste un Clou on the same wrist is one of the strongest men's jewellery combinations available from any maison. For women wearing the 35mm, stacking with both a Love and Juste un Clou creates a bold, layered look that pairs the Pasha's sporty energy with the elegance of Cartier's iconic bracelet collections.

Every Pasha at Konesseur is authenticated and available with worldwide shipping from Dubai. Browse the collection above, or explore our full range of Cartier watches and Cartier jewellery.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Pasha de Cartier

What is the chain on the Cartier Pasha?

The small chain connects the screw down crown cap to the case. It was originally designed to prevent the cap from being lost when the wearer unscrewed it to wind or set the watch. On the modern Pasha, it's largely a design feature rather than a functional necessity, but it remains the Pasha's most distinctive visual element. The cap is topped with a synthetic blue spinel cabochon.

What sizes does the Pasha come in?

The current Pasha de Cartier is available in 35mm and 41mm. The 35mm is a unisex mid size that works well for women who want a sporty watch and men who prefer a more restrained presence. The 41mm is the primary men's size with a bold but not oversized wrist presence. Vintage Pasha models were also available in 38mm and 42mm, and the Miss Pasha (now discontinued) was 27mm.

Is the Pasha de Cartier waterproof?

The modern Pasha de Cartier is water resistant to 100 metres (10 bar), which means it's suitable for swimming, snorkelling, and everyday water exposure. This is the same rating as the Santos de Cartier and significantly better than the Ballon Bleu (30 metres) or the Tank (30 metres). Water resistance was the reason the Pasha was created in the first place, and it remains one of its practical advantages.

How does the Pasha compare to the Santos?

Both are sporty Cartier watches with 100 metres water resistance, automatic movements, and QuickSwitch/SmartLink systems. The Santos has a square case with a more understated, versatile character that blends into any context. The Pasha has a round case with a bolder personality: crown cap and chain, Arabic numerals, and a more assertive presence. The Santos is the Swiss army knife; the Pasha is the statement piece. If you wear one watch every day, the Santos is more versatile. If you have a collection and want something with unmistakable character, the Pasha delivers.

Is the Pasha a good first Cartier watch?

It can be, especially if its bold design resonates with you. The Pasha offers excellent value within the Cartier range: an in house automatic movement, 100 metres water resistance, QuickSwitch, SmartLink, bracelet and strap included, and one of the strongest design identities in luxury watchmaking. That said, the Santos is typically the more popular first Cartier watch because its square case is more versatile. The Pasha is best as a first Cartier for someone who already knows they want something distinctive rather than conventional.

What movement does the Pasha use?

The three hand models in both 35mm and 41mm use Cartier's manufacture 1847 MC automatic calibre, which beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers 40 hours of power reserve. The skeleton models use the hand wound 9624 MC with 50 hours of power reserve. The chronograph uses a dedicated automatic chronograph calibre. All are visible through a sapphire crystal caseback.

Why does the Pasha use Arabic numerals instead of Roman numerals?

The original Pasha was commissioned by the Pasha of Marrakech, and Arabic numerals were chosen to reflect that cultural context. It's a deliberate departure from the Roman numerals found on nearly every other Cartier watch, and it gives the Pasha a distinctly different character: more casual, more sporty, and more visually impactful. The Arabic numerals are one of the details that make the Pasha instantly identifiable.

Can I buy a vintage Pasha at Konesseur?

Our collection includes both current production models and pre owned references from earlier Pasha generations, including the Pasha C, the Pasha Seatimer, and earlier 38mm and 42mm versions. Availability changes regularly, so browse the collection above for current stock. Every vintage piece is authenticated to the same standard as our new inventory.

What strap options come with the Pasha?

Every modern Pasha de Cartier comes with both a polished steel bracelet (or gold bracelet on precious metal models) and a leather strap in the box. The QuickSwitch system lets you swap between them in seconds without any tools. The steel bracelet features SmartLink adjustment, meaning you can size it at home by pressing small buttons on the back of each link. This is the same system used on the Santos, and it's one of the most practical features in luxury watchmaking.

Is the Pasha suitable for women?

Absolutely. The 35mm Pasha is specifically designed as a unisex size and sits beautifully on a woman's wrist. It offers a sportier, bolder alternative to the Ballon Bleu or Panthère, with 100 metres of water resistance and a genuine mechanical movement. Diamond set bezel versions are available in rose gold for those who want the Pasha's sporty character with added sparkle. The 41mm can also work for women who prefer larger watches.

Why buy a Pasha in Dubai?

Dubai's 5% VAT gives you a meaningful cost advantage over Europe (19% to 25% VAT) and many other luxury markets. The Pasha's connection to North African and Middle Eastern culture also gives it particular resonance in the region. Buying through Konesseur means rigorous authentication, immediate availability, and worldwide shipping at Dubai's competitive pricing.

What Cartier jewellery pairs best with the Pasha?

The Juste un Clou is the strongest pairing. Its bold, industrial nail shape complements the Pasha's assertive personality perfectly. The Love bracelet works well too, especially in yellow gold alongside a gold or two tone Pasha. For the fullest expression of Cartier wrist stacking, explore our Cartier jewellery collection.

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