Yves Saint Laurent — watch collection

About Yves Saint Laurent’s watch collection

Yves Saint Laurent was a French fashion designer who fundamentally shaped modern luxury fashion through his house, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL). Operating from 1962 until his retirement in 2002, Saint Laurent became known for elevating tailoring, introducing the tuxedo jacket for women, and creating collections that balanced sophistication with accessibility. His influence extended beyond clothing into every aspect of design aesthetics, including his personal taste in timepieces.

Saint Laurent's approach to watches reflected his broader design philosophy: understated elegance paired with recognised heritage. The Yves Saint Laurent watch collection centres on Cartier, the French jeweller whose own history of craftsmanship aligned with his sensibilities. In a 1971 portrait shot by photographer Horst P. Horst for Vogue, taken at Saint Laurent's Paris home, he wore the Cartier Santos-Dumont ref. 78097 in 18k yellow gold, positioned notably upside down on his right wrist. The photograph captures him in a grey leisure suit, embodying the refined minimalism that defined both the YSL and Cartier brands during that era.

Beyond the Santos-Dumont, Saint Laurent was also documented wearing the Cartier Must de Cartier Tank in silver-gilt vermeil. This model, characterised by its rectangular case and clean lines, complemented his preference for geometric precision in design. Both timepieces represent Cartier's commitment to functional design rather than unnecessary embellishment, a principle that Saint Laurent championed throughout his career.