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Two Approaches to Elegant Steel
The Cartier Ballon Bleu and Omega Constellation are the two most popular “elegant steel” watches — neither is a dive watch, neither is a chronograph, both are designed purely for daily sophistication. The Ballon Bleu uses the blue sapphire cabochon crown and Roman numeral dial for Cartier’s signature jewelry-watch aesthetic. The Constellation uses the four “griffes” (claws) and pie-pan dial for Omega’s midcentury observatory heritage.
| Factor | Ballon Bleu 33mm | Constellation 29mm |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Round (cabochon crown) | Round (4 claws) |
| Movement | Cal. 076 (auto) or quartz | Cal. 8700 (METAS auto) |
| Certification | None | METAS Master Chronometer |
| WR | 30m | 100m |
| Dial | Roman numerals, guilloché | Pie-pan texture, applied indices |
| Retail | $5,400 | $4,900 |
Ballon Bleu for: Cartier heritage, cabochon signature, jewelry aesthetic. Constellation for: METAS accuracy, better WR, lower price. Both at Cartier and Omega at DR.WATCH.
