CURVE THEORY

How many ways can you draw a circle? Well, if you asked the designers at Cartier, their answer would probably be: “More than you can imagine.” And they can prove it, too.

The Ballon Bleu, introduced in 2007, is a perfect example of how the French Maison was able to break free from the stifling constraints of design rules, and think laterally as it flexes its creative sensibilities. Instead of designing a round watch from a two-dimensional perspective, Cartier explored the possibilities of fleshing out the shape from every