The Drive de Cartier Moon Phases and Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat share the line’s cushion-shaped case, but take it in different directions. The Moon Phases pairs automatic winding with a moon-phase display and a fuller case; the Extra-Flat strips the dial back and uses a manual-wind movement in a case listed at 6.6 mm thick. The choice is chiefly between complication and convenience on one side, and slimness and a daily winding ritual on the other.
How the two Drive watches differ
| Feature | Drive de Cartier Moon Phases | Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat |
|---|---|---|
| Display | Hours, minutes and moon phase at six o’clock | Hours and minutes |
| Movement | Automatic calibre 1904-LU MC | Manual-winding calibre 430 MC |
| Reported case size | 41 mm wide and 12.15 mm high, per Time+Tide’s 2017 review | 6.6 mm thick; 38 × 39 mm in launch and steel-variant reports, or 39 × 39 mm in the Fondation Haute Horlogerie reference |
| Materials documented | Stainless steel and pink gold | Pink gold and limited white gold at launch; steel and yellow gold were reported later |
| Best fit for | Someone who wants the moon-phase display and automatic winding | Someone who values a slim profile, a quieter dial and manual winding |
The dimensions and reserves are reported differently across sources for the Extra-Flat, so the figures are attributed in the relevant sections below rather than treated as one definitive specification.
Drive de Cartier Moon Phases: a dressier dial with an added complication
Cartier introduced the Moon Phases to the Drive line in 2017 in stainless steel reference WSNM0008 and pink gold reference WGNM0008, according to Time and Watches’ SIHH 2017 report. Its automatic calibre 1904-LU MC drives the hours and minutes as well as the moon-phase display at six o’clock.
The case is notably taller than the Extra-Flat’s. Time+Tide’s 2017 hands-on review reports a 41 mm width and 12.15 mm height, with a 48-hour power reserve. That extra height gives the Moon Phases more presence on the wrist and is a practical consideration for close-fitting shirt cuffs; the 12.15 mm figure is from that review, not a current Cartier specification.
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Time and Watches said at launch that the moon-phase mechanism would need a one-day correction only once every 125 years. That is a launch-source specification, not an independently verified long-term test. In its own 2017 review, Time+Tide praised the dial’s warmth and detail and the complication’s fit with the Drive design, while finding the prominent “automatic” wording on the dial less successful. Those are the reviewer’s aesthetic judgments rather than objective performance findings.
Historical launch prices
Time and Watches listed 2017 launch prices of €7,500 / US$7,850 for the steel Moon Phases and €20,200 / US$21,100 for the pink-gold version. These are launch-era figures only; the available sources do not establish current prices or stock.
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Drive de Cartier Extra-Flat: a thinner, simpler profile
The Extra-Flat keeps the cushion case but makes thinness the defining feature. The Fondation Haute Horlogerie describes it as less than 7 mm high and 40% slimmer than the original Drive, and lists the case at 6.6 mm thick. Its model reference gives a radial brushed, satin-finish dial, a manual-winding calibre 430 MC, 30 m water resistance and a 40-hour power reserve. The page documents pink gold and a limited white-gold edition of 200 pieces. See the Fondation Haute Horlogerie reference.
Case dimensions and reserve vary across the published specifications. The 2017 launch report gives 38 × 39 mm and a 43-hour reserve for the original precious-metal models; the Fondation Haute Horlogerie reference lists 39 × 39 mm and 40 hours. For the steel model reported in 2018, Monochrome Watches also gives 38 × 39 mm, 6.6 mm thick, 30 m water resistance and a 43-hour reserve. The sources do not establish whether these differences come from variants, rounding or editorial discrepancies.
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The 430 MC is manually wound, so the watch asks for regular interaction rather than relying on wrist motion to keep it running. In return, the slim case is the practical distinction: at 6.6 mm, it is the better-documented option here for a low-profile fit and easier clearance beneath a cuff. Its simpler hours-and-minutes display also leaves the dial with less visual activity than the Moon Phases.
Materials and historical launch prices
Time and Watches reported the 2017 launch versions as pink gold reference WGNM0006 and limited white gold reference WGNM0007. Its launch prices were €14,900 / US$15,600 for pink gold and €15,900 / US$16,700 for white gold. In 2018, Hodinkee and Monochrome Watches covered a steel Extra-Flat launch at US$5,600; Hodinkee also discussed a yellow-gold variant at US$15,400. All are historical launch-context prices, not current retail prices. The later steel coverage appears at Hodinkee and Monochrome Watches.
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Which one makes more sense?
Choose the Moon Phases if
- You specifically want a moon-phase display alongside the time.
- You prefer automatic winding to a manual winding routine.
- You like a more detailed dial and a larger, taller case presence.
Choose the Extra-Flat if
- A thin case and low-profile wear matter more than an added complication.
- You prefer a simpler hours-and-minutes dial.
- You enjoy manually winding a watch and are comfortable with its regular upkeep.
Both retain the Drive’s cushion-case identity, but the contrast is not simply decorative: the Moon Phases spends more space on a complication and automatic movement, while the Extra-Flat makes case thinness its central feature. Which design is more appealing is personal; the dimensions, winding method and displays are the concrete differences to weigh.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Availability and buying context
The cited material is historical reporting and a model reference page, not a current Cartier catalogue or stock feed. It establishes the documented references, launch-era versions and specifications above, but does not establish whether either model remains in production, what either costs today, or whether an authorized retailer has one available. Treat any listing or quotation encountered now as specific to that seller, condition and date.
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