Taylor Swift’s Cartier Watch Is a Magnet for the World’s Most Famous Women
WatchesThe legendary Panthère has been worn by icons like Madonna and Princess Diana.By Oren HartovJanuary 30, 2025Photographs: Getty Images, Cartier; Collage: Gabe ConteSave this storySaveSave this storySaveIt’s tough to argue with a classic Cartier. It’s even tougher to argue with the world’s most famous singer-songwriter wearing one while celebrating her boyfriend’s third-straight trip to the Super Bowl.Taylor Swift rocked a diamond-studded Panthère—the svelte, feminine model that debuted in 1983—while embracing Travis Kelce following the Kansas City Chiefs’ 32-29 win this past Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Swift fits right in with the watch’s typical clientele, who are among the most famous women to ever live. Everyone from Madonna to Princess Diana to Gwyneth Paltrow has worn one—the Panthère has also appeared on the wrists of such male heartthrobs as Charlie Sheen, Pierce Brosnan, and Keith Richards. Timothée Chalamet loves him a good Panthère. So should you.Perry Knotts/Getty ImagesCartierWhat’s so special about the Panthère? Like many a classic Cartier model, it nails that perfect combination of class, restraint, elegance, legibility, and je ne sais quoi that is both quintessentially French as well as quintessentially…well, old money. Look at Swift’s version: It’s got a rectangular precious-metal case, a matching multi-link bracelet, a white dial with black Roman numeral indices, an inner railroad minute track, a blued steel handset, and a cabochon crown. And while this one has a diamond-studded bezel, there are plenty of others without the rocks. In fact, there are a whopping 73 different Panthère references on the Cartier site at the moment. (One imagines Mel Brooks slinging ‘em like in Spaceballs: “Cartier Panthère in Small; Cartier Panthère in Medium; Cartier Panthère in Large; Cartier Panthère in Mini; Cartier Panthère in two-tone; Cartier Panthère with gems; Cartier Panthère the breakfast cereal; Cartier Panthère the flameeethrowerrrr!”)The Panthère may not be the most chronometrically compelling of timepieces—they’re all quartz regulated and battery powered—but in the world of Cartier, it’s what’s on the outside that counts. Cartier is all about design, and the watch’s guts are (largely) secondary. In fact, had quartz movements existed at the turn of the 20th century, you could be almost certain that Louis Cartier would have fit the first Santos-Dumont and Tank models with it. If you’re looking for a Taylor Swift timekeeper that presents well both outside and in, there’s the yellow-gold Tambour she wore to a Chiefs game back in November. If you want something distinctly avant-garde, there’s that vintage Concorde watch she wore as a choker to the Grammys a year ago. (Though you may have to make it into a choker yourself…)The Panthère, after her Rolex Day-Date, is more like a fastball straight up the middle: Classic, reliable, and good-looking. It’s the type of timepiece that anyone would be happy to own. And if you don’t have $32,200 for Swift’s diamond-studded, yellow-gold version, there’s always the Mini in stainless steel for $3,700. (Hey—if they're good enough for Chalamet, it’s good enough for you!)
It’s tough to argue with a classic Cartier. It’s even tougher to argue with the world’s most famous singer-songwriter wearing one while celebrating her boyfriend’s third-straight trip to the Super Bowl.
Taylor Swift rocked a diamond-studded Panthère—the svelte, feminine model that debuted in 1983—while embracing Travis Kelce following the Kansas City Chiefs’ 32-29 win this past Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Swift fits right in with the watch’s typical clientele, who are among the most famous women to ever live. Everyone from Madonna to Princess Diana to Gwyneth Paltrow has worn one—the Panthère has also appeared on the wrists of such male heartthrobs as Charlie Sheen, Pierce Brosnan, and Keith Richards. Timothée Chalamet loves him a good Panthère. So should you.
What’s so special about the Panthère? Like many a classic Cartier model, it nails that perfect combination of class, restraint, elegance, legibility, and je ne sais quoi that is both quintessentially French as well as quintessentially…well, old money. Look at Swift’s version: It’s got a rectangular precious-metal case, a matching multi-link bracelet, a white dial with black Roman numeral indices, an inner railroad minute track, a blued steel handset, and a cabochon crown. And while this one has a diamond-studded bezel, there are plenty of others without the rocks. In fact, there are a whopping 73 different Panthère references on the Cartier site at the moment. (One imagines Mel Brooks slinging ‘em like in Spaceballs: “Cartier Panthère in Small; Cartier Panthère in Medium; Cartier Panthère in Large; Cartier Panthère in Mini; Cartier Panthère in two-tone; Cartier Panthère with gems; Cartier Panthère the breakfast cereal; Cartier Panthère the flameeethrowerrrr!”)
The Panthère may not be the most chronometrically compelling of timepieces—they’re all quartz regulated and battery powered—but in the world of Cartier, it’s what’s on the outside that counts. Cartier is all about design, and the watch’s guts are (largely) secondary. In fact, had quartz movements existed at the turn of the 20th century, you could be almost certain that Louis Cartier would have fit the first Santos-Dumont and Tank models with it. If you’re looking for a Taylor Swift timekeeper that presents well both outside and in, there’s the yellow-gold Tambour she wore to a Chiefs game back in November. If you want something distinctly avant-garde, there’s that vintage Concorde watch she wore as a choker to the Grammys a year ago. (Though you may have to make it into a choker yourself…)
The Panthère, after her Rolex Day-Date, is more like a fastball straight up the middle: Classic, reliable, and good-looking. It’s the type of timepiece that anyone would be happy to own. And if you don’t have $32,200 for Swift’s diamond-studded, yellow-gold version, there’s always the Mini in stainless steel for $3,700. (Hey—if they're good enough for Chalamet, it’s good enough for you!)
