For watch and fashion geeks, this photo of Drew Barrymore (at a party for Refinery29.com in December) wearing two watches at once is heaven. Who amongst us hasn’t been faced with the hard choice of deciding which watch to wear? For Barrymore, the solution is simple: why choose at all? Of course it helps when you have both a Cartier Tank Solo and a Chanel Première in your watch wardrobe.
Both timepieces are French and emblematic of their respective brands. In fact, the elegant designs of Cartier’s Tank collection are the most recognizable timepieces of the 20th century. Introduced during WWI, the rectangular case evoked the look of a tank, hence the name. The Solo adds subtle upgrades to the original minimalist design. For example, Barrymore’s watch features an 18K gold and stainless steel case, a silver opaline dial and a simple, round-scale alligator strap.
Cartier Tank Solo timepiece
The Solo also honors the Tank collection’s unique look with the iconic crown set with a synthetic cabochon-shaped spinel, Roman numerals and sword-shaped hands in blued steel. It’s not a complicated watch—powered by Cartier’s precise quartz movements, it tells time, looks good and that’s about it. But it’s a hardy one with 30m water resistance and a sturdy sapphire crystal.
Barrymore comes from Hollywood royalty and her Chanel Première has a similarly regal pedigree. Introduced in 1987, the Première was one of the first watches launched by a couture house. Everything about it is an homage to Coco Chanel. The octagonal shape of the case and facetted crystal was inspired the stopper on a bottle of Chanel No. 5 and the chain bracelet is, of course, a nod to Coco’s love of links.
Chanel Première timepiece
The Première was updated in 2013 and Barrymore’s must-have montre is an example of the latest version. The profile of this new model is slightly slimmer than its earlier incarnations and the proportion of the 18K yellow gold case has been streamlined to suit more modern tastes. But the black lacquered dial still sits like a jewel set on an 18K yellow gold chain bracelet. In fact, the Première falls into the horological category known as a jewelry watch. Still, it has a precision quartz movement for those who need to be fashionably on time.
This doubled up look encapsulates everything we love about Barrymore’s style: Classic and quirky, unapologetic (especially to watch snobs who frown upon non-mechanical timepieces) and fun.
