Which watches does Rachida Dati wear?

As part of our “Who Wears What” column, after taking a look at Sarah Knafo’s wrist (read it again here: what watch does Sarah Knafo wear), we move on to another political figure with a more… jewellery-forward style. Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture as I write these lines and an announced candidate for Mayor of Paris, has never given the impression of having an ascetic relationship with beautiful things.

And when we say “beautiful things”, we’re talking Cartier, Bulgari, and that faint whiff of controversy that tends to cling to well-adorned wrists. I did the digging, cross-checked the photos, the dials, the crowns and the bracelets: the result is a very coherent picture. A pronounced taste for Cartier, a deliberate detour via Bulgari, and, in the shadows, a Chopard mentioned but never clearly confirmed on the wrist.

When watches become a matter of disclosure

Rachida Dati likes fine pieces—so much so that she has found herself in something of a “delicate situation” regarding her jewellery and watch collection. Indeed, Rachida has been in the sights of France’s High Authority for Transparency in Public Life, as she allegedly failed to declare more than €400,000 worth of watches and jewellery. Without turning this into a trial of intent, the main takeaway is simple: she has a taste for luxury—and not the timid kind.

In this story, what interests me isn’t the political soap opera, but the aesthetic signal: someone who wears Cartier day in, day out doesn’t do so by accident. It’s a signature. A language. A way of saying “I’m allowed to like this” even when the Republic pretends to prefer sensible watches.

Cartier Ballon Blanc

The Cartier Ballon Blanc is instantly recognisable thanks to its emblematic crown at 4 o’clock—a small, elegant protrusion that breaks the perfect circle, like an acute accent on a sentence that’s a little too smooth.

The sunray satin dial features Roman numerals, and the bezel of the 30 mm steel case is set with 44 diamonds. As for the movement, nothing transcendent here, as it’s a simple quartz calibre.

The jewel of the watch is its solitaire diamond set into the crown at 4 o’clock. The strap, meanwhile, is leather with a satin-like finish.

I believe it’s the W4BL0003 reference.

Cartier Tank Solo: a slight doubt

I’m almost certain she’s wearing a Cartier Tank Solo in the photo above. “Almost”, because the image isn’t sharp enough when you zoom in, and the crown is a very distinctive detail on a Tank.

The silhouette is there, though: rectangular, elegant, that Cartesian classicism that cuts across decades. And on Dati, the watch once again appears to be on leather, which reinforces the coherence of her taste: Cartier, yes—but “city” Cartier, not “display case” Cartier.

Spec sheet (if it is indeed a rose-gold Tank Solo)

• Model: Cartier Tank Solo
• Case: 18K rose gold
• Dial: silvered, Roman numerals, railway minute track
• Hands: blued steel
• Crystal: sapphire
• Strap: leather (often brown in this configuration), 18K rose-gold buckle
• Indicative price: around €12,750

I’ll say it plainly: I’m willing to bet on the Tank Solo, but I won’t write “confirmed” until I have a clean shot. That’s also what watchmaking seriousness looks like: when the image is blurry, you don’t become a clairvoyant.

Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas 35 mm: the reptilian icon at €56,100

And then there’s the piece that leaves no room for doubt: the Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas. Here, there’s no possible hesitation. The Serpenti is a watch you recognise the way you recognise a fragrance in a room: instantly. A wearable sculpture. A watch that doesn’t ask permission.

The version seen on Rachida Dati’s wrist is a very luxurious model in 18K rose gold, with a diamond-set bezel and a black dial. And above all, that double-spiral Tubogas bracelet—supple and sensual—wrapping around the wrist like a fixed idea.

Specifications of the Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas (35 mm)

• Dimensions: 35 mm × 35 mm
• Case: polished 18K rose gold
• Bezel: set with 38 brilliant-cut diamonds
• Dial: black opaline, sunburst guilloché finish, applied indices
• Hands: polished rose gold
• Crown: 18K rose gold set with a pink rubellite cabochon
• Crystal: scratch-resistant sapphire
• Movement: quartz
• Water resistance: 30 m
• Bracelet: 18K rose gold, Tubogas double spiral
• Indicative price: €56,100

Whether you like it or not, the Serpenti is a statement. And on a female politician who embraces pageantry, it makes perfect sense. The snake is an icon of power across the centuries: fascinating, ambiguous, impossible to ignore. It’s Bulgari at its most Bulgari—perfect for slithering towards power (please, applause for that line).

Chopard?

The “revelations” published by Libération in the case of the €420,000 in undeclared jewellery mention a Chopard watch priced at €32,000 (as well as a Cartier Ballon Bleu). After extensive research, the only photo I could find of Rachida Dati wearing a watch other than Cartier or Bulgari is very blurry: you could imagine a Chopard, but I have no clear proof.

I’ll go out on a limb and bet on a Chopard Happy Sport, judging by the case shape, the lugs and the overall vibe—but the resolution is too low for it to be anything more than an intuition, not a conviction. If it is indeed a Happy Sport, unless it’s a special edition or heavily set (which could explain the €32,000 figure cited by Libé), we’d be looking more at budgets generally seen between €7,600 and €9,600 for non-set versions depending on diameter, and higher (sometimes significantly) as soon as diamonds enter the picture.

Rachida Dati doesn’t have a collection of discreet watches. She has a collection of stylish, signed watches, often worn as accessories of power. This isn’t a moral judgement. It’s an aesthetic reading.

FAQ: Rachida Dati’s watches

What watches does Rachida Dati wear?

A Cartier Ballon Blanc on a black leather strap (with a set crown, a very recognisable signature), as well as a Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas 35 mm in rose gold. A Cartier Tank Solo is very likely in certain photos, even if the image isn’t always sharp enough to state the exact reference with 100% certainty. A Chopard is mentioned in the press, but I file it under “assumed” for lack of an irrefutable photo.

Does Rachida Dati wear luxury watches?

Yes. Cartier and Bulgari are luxury maisons, and the Serpenti Tubogas mentioned here is priced above €50,000 at retail.

How much is the Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas worn by Rachida Dati?

The version described (18K rose gold, diamonds, black dial, double-spiral Tubogas bracelet) is given at around €56,100.

Does she also own a Chopard?

It’s mentioned in the investigation relayed by the press, with a reference to a Chopard priced at €32,000, but I haven’t found a sufficiently clear photo showing Rachida Dati wearing a Chopard. I therefore prefer to describe it as an assumed piece, not one confirmed on the wrist.

Why does Cartier come up so often in her collection?

Cartier is codified Parisian elegance: Roman numerals, crisp lines, signatures recognisable at first glance. On a leather strap (often black), these watches remain “dressy” and very consistent with a sophisticated political image.