Cartier · Collection
Ronde Solo de Cartier
The everyday Cartier. A 42 mm dial gives the printing nowhere to hide, so this is the model we photograph most carefully.
The everyday Cartier. A 42 mm dial gives the printing nowhere to hide, so this is the model we photograph most carefully.
It is the one we suggest for a first watch. At 42 mm the dial is large enough that the printing is read at normal distance rather than with a loupe, so there is nothing to hide behind: numerals even in weight, a continuous minute track, a wordmark on the center line, and a seconds hand that reaches into the track without touching it. One reference, on leather from $329 or steel from $349, shipping included.
Most of this catalog is small: tanks, ovals, jewelry sizes. The Ronde is the opposite. At 42 mm the dial is large enough that the printing is read at normal distance rather than with a loupe, and a watch with nothing on the dial but numerals and a name has to get those two things right.
Roman numerals should be even in weight, with clean serifs and consistent spacing around the track. The minute track should be continuous rather than dotted at the quarters. The wordmark should sit on the center line; a millimeter off is visible on a dial this size, and it is the single most common flaw on an entry-level round Cartier.
The seconds hand is the second check, and it is specific to this reference: it should reach into the minute track without touching it, and it should be straight. A short hand or a bent one is the kind of detail that only shows in a photograph, so we always send a straight-on dial frame.
The photograph on this page is a 36 mm Ronde case from the same design family, shown for the dial and strap. The reference below is the 42 mm Solo.
Fewer parts, so the ones that are there carry more weight.
Numerals even in weight, minute track continuous, wordmark on the center line. At 42 mm all three are read at normal distance.
Reaches into the minute track without touching it, and straight along its length.
Even stitching, a buckle square to the strap, and leather that is not paper-thin at the lugs.
A clean step from bezel to crystal, with no polishing haze around the edge.
One reference, two strap options. Case size as stated by the line.
| Reference | Case | Movement | Bracelet | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W6701011 | 42 mm steel | High-grade quartz | Leather strap | $329 |
| W6701011 | 42 mm steel | High-grade quartz | Steel bracelet | $349 |
Checked on 2026-10-19 · reference numbers from dealer listings · prices include shipping · sample figures for layout review
The entry point of the catalog, and the family with the least competition between workshops.
| Line | What it covers here | Where it stands | We quote it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| AF / CR | The 42 mm Solo | Only line listing this reference | Always, for this family |
| BV | Santos only | Does not list Ronde references | Not quoted here |
| GF | Santos only | Does not list Ronde references | Not quoted here |
Straight on at two times life size. This frame is not optional on a 42 mm dial.
Case from the side, so the crystal step and the case-band thickness can be judged.
Tag, card and case back. Three matching codes or the watch goes back.
It wears like a 42 mm round watch, so on a wrist under 6.5 inches it is a large watch. Most buyers of this reference are replacing a 40 to 42 mm sports watch, and it feels familiar.
It is the simplest case in the catalog: no bracelet engineering, no hinged cover, no oval. That is reflected in the price and in nothing else.
Leather is how the reference is usually sold and it suits the watch. The bracelet option costs $20 more and is the better choice if you wear it daily.
It is the one we recommend for a first watch, because it is the easiest to wear and the easiest to judge on arrival: one dial, one hand set, nothing to hide behind.
The case back is plain and can be engraved locally. We do not offer engraving ourselves.
Two to four days to confirm, seven to twelve days in transit. QC photographs before dispatch.