Louis Cartel Charlemagne II Titanium Black
Europe has one of the most diverse and competitive microbrand and independent watch design scenes in the world. Making a name for yourself is no easy feat. However, despite facing many challenges, Louis Cartel have risen as one of the fastest growing European watch brands in the last two years, founded in Paris in 2022. Following sell-out first and second collections they’re back with their latest offerings in updated colours and styles.
One of the stand-out watches from Louis Cartel’s early collections was the Charlemagne I, which became the brand’s signature model. So, it’s no surprise to see a follow-up in the form of the Charlemagne II. It’s a tonneau timepiece that measures 40mm in diameter with a thickness of 15mm, giving it the same bold and urban aesthetic favoured by hyper luxury brands like Bianchet and Richard Mille at a drastically more accessible price point.
Louis Cartel Charlemagne II Rose Gold
Its steel case is available in a handful of coloured coatings including rose gold and titanium black. Compared to the Charlemagne I, the biggest visual update comes on the dial. It’s still modern and openworked but the Charlemagne II has big Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. As a result, the level of openworking is much more intricate and architectural, revealing the Miyota 8N24 with 42-hour power reserve housed inside.
Louis Cartel Suvari Forest Green/Navy
Second in the new collection is a new edition of the Suvari. It’s a quartz timepiece that pays tribute to the legendary works of designers like Gerald Genta. A broad octagonal bezel sits atop a 41mm steel case with integrated steel bracelet. The new selection introduces forest green and navy blue dials, which are much more intense and vibrant than the original ice blue, black, gold and olive green versions.
Louis Cartel Tinera De Louis Cartel Midnight
Last up is a quartet of new Tinera De Louis Cartel references. Similar to the Suvari, these are integrated bracelet sports watches with quartz movements. The shape though is a cushion case design instead of an octagon and it’s also much wider at a diameter of 43mm. As for colour, there’s a blue, red and black, called the CEO, Cherry and Midnight respectively. The fourth watch in the collection is called Royal Blue with a blue dial and rose gold PVD case.
With such confident style available for £196-£247 depending on the model, it’s little surprise that Louis Cartel rank in the top 10 fastest-growing watch brands in Europe. The Charlemagne II in particular shows great promise in terms of being an accessible mechanical timepiece with room to help Louis Cartel develop their individual style further, something which is important for all young brands finding their place in the industry.
More details at Louis Cartel.
