Watch Paparazzi

Actor Betty White spotted wearing Cartier

Betty White was photographed on the red carpet wearing a yellow gold Cartier Panthère de Cartier, the square-cased bracelet watch that has been a cornerstone of Cartier's ladies' collection since its debut in 1983. Against her sky-blue embroidered gown, the warm satin finish of the 18-karat yellow gold case and integrated bracelet drew the eye with calm authority — no diamonds, no spectacle, just the quiet confidence of a genuinely great watch on a genuinely great wrist.

The Panthère de Cartier in its medium yellow gold configuration features a 27mm square case in 18k yellow gold, fitted with Cartier's characteristic rounded-corner bezel secured by four signature vis screws. The silvered dial carries Roman numeral hour markers in the classic Cartier typology, blued steel sword-shaped hands, and the discreet railroad minute track running along the perimeter. The crown is capped with a blue synthetic cabochon sapphire — a house signature. The bracelet is the watch's true engineering achievement: hundreds of individually articulated rectangular links that drape over the wrist with a suppleness that belies the rigidity of solid gold.

The Panthère was relaunched by Cartier in 2018 after a period of dormancy, signaling the maison's recognition that the model's retro credentials and geometric language had found a new generation of admirers. Vintage examples from the 1980s and 1990s command strong collector attention, while the current production references — particularly in full yellow gold — sit among Cartier's most sought-after ladies' references. The medium size strikes an ideal balance: contemporary enough for modern proportions, true enough to the original to satisfy purists.

Betty White was a figure of extraordinary longevity both in career and in life, her wit and warmth spanning nearly eight decades of American entertainment. That she chose the Panthère — a watch of similar staying power — speaks to an alignment of values: classic, unimpeachable, and still very much relevant.

At retail, the Cartier Panthère de Cartier medium in yellow gold lists at approximately $20,900. On the secondary market, clean examples in full yellow gold trade at or slightly above retail, reflecting sustained demand and limited availability. For collectors, White's association with the reference only deepens its cultural resonance.