If the Crash was Cartier London’s anarchist, the Bamboo Coussin was its louche Parisian cousin—the one that wore silk shirts to Studio 54 and never showed up before 3PM. Born in the early 1970s, this curiously elegant timepiece came out of Cartier Paris, during a post-family era when each branch of the maison had begun expressing its own distinct design language. While London went surreal and New York went industrial, Paris leaned into soft rebellion—ornamental, textured, and just a little decadent. The Bamboo line was its most relaxed flourish.
The Coussin (“cushion” in French) gets its name from the indented, puffed-up square case, while the bamboo comes from its fluted bezel—mimicking segmented bamboo stalks in precious gold. The effect is sculptural but not showy, with an almost lounge-like ease. Produced in yellow and white gold across four sizes, the Coussin housed either manual-winding or quartz movements depending on the variant. Dials were classic Cartier: Roman numerals, blued sword hands, and either a “Swiss” or “Paris” signature at 6 o’clock.
Despite its undeniable charm, the Coussin was never meant for mass appeal. Fewer than a few hundred were produced before the model quietly vanished by the early 1980s. No adieu, no commemorative editions—just gone. For decades, it lived in Cartier’s shadow archive of esoterica: too funky for mainstream fame, too rare to be ignored.
That changed recently. Just a couple of years ago, Christie’s Dubai listed a yellow-gold manual-wind example—likely a Ref. 78102—which fetched USD 23,940 (~₹19.9 lakh). Not long after, a large yellow-gold variant went for $55,000 (~₹46 lakh) at Antiquorum in November 2023. Then came the big one—a white gold piece that sold for €338,000 (~₹3.04 crore) at Monaco Legend Group in October 2024. Even off-market, pieces now vanish within days of listing, if they appear at all. In early 2025, Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton was spotted wearing one post-game in Paris—proof that the Bamboo Coussin’s low-key eccentricity has finally entered the pop-cultural spotlight.
Why the heat? Because in an era oversaturated with steel sport watches, the Coussin represents something different: softness, ornamentation, story...and real rarity. It’s less about versatility, more about statement. You don’t just wear a Coussin—you let it do the talking.
Specs: Cartier Bamboo Coussin
- Era: 1970s-1980s
- Sizes: Small (20 x 26 mm), Medium (26 x 32 mm), Large (27 x 35 mm), Jumbo (28.3 x 36.3 mm)
- Case: 18k yellow or white gold, cushion-shaped with bamboo-textured bezel
- Movement: Manual-wind (Cal. 78-1) or quartz, depending on model
- Dial: White lacquer with Roman numerals, blued hands, “Paris” or “Swiss” signature
- Crown: Gold beaded with blue sapphire cabochon
- Production: Estimated <500 total; Ref. 78102 examples under 250
- Current Market Value: ~$15,000 to $55,000+ based on material, size, and condition
Image Credits: Bonhams, Christies
