From Kendall Jenner to Elle Fanning, why bangle watches are back in fashion

The National · Francesca Fearon · 2026-10-29 10:29 UTC

Cartier, Chanel, Piaget and Bvlgari are leading a revival of the jewellery-inspired timepiece, turning watches into statement accessories

Could Kendall Jenner and Elle Fanning have helped propel the bangle watch back into fashion? Jenner has been wearing Cartier’s Baignoire for several years, including at last month’s Venice Film Festival, while Fanning paired hers with a succession of looks at Cannes last year.

Part jewel, part timepiece, the Baignoire watch places its distinctive oval-shaped dial on a rigid bracelet rather than a conventional strap and buckle. After more than a decade dominated by sports watches, its resurgence reflects a broader appetite for watches that behave more like jewellery.

Cartier reintroduced the Baignoire in 2023 to considerable fanfare. Its instantly recognisable bathtub-shaped case first appeared as the Ovale Cintré in 1958, before officially taking the Baignoire name in 1973. The revived design retains the signature curves and sapphire-set winding crown, and is a prime example of Cartier approaching watchmaking through a jeweller’s eye.

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