Cartier - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE Hong Kong Monday, November 30, 2015 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Cartier
    Year: Circa 1925
    Case No: Cartier hand-stamped numbers 1193 and 9234
    Material: Silver and enamel
    Dimensions: 48.5 mm width, 67 mm. length and 38 mm. depth
    Signed: Dial signed Cartier, Paris Londres, case signed and numbered
    Accessories: With Cartier red leather fitted travel case.
    Literature: For an illustration for a Cartier desk clock with minute repeaters, please see Cartier in the 20th Century, page 39.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The first of Cartier’s famous mystery clocks was produced in 1912. As well as these technically superior clocks, Cartier also made many decorative objects and timepieces, including desk and table top clocks. The majority of which were minute repeating. Their Paris workshops usually produced the movements, cases, dials and other decorative elements and Cartier began designing inventive and colourful desk clocks. These eye-catching materials included engine-turned metal with coloured enamel, agate, onyx, nephrite and rock crystal. The clocks were usually fitted with a piece of moon stone, which form a button, when it is pressed, the clock will chime the hour, quarter and minutes.

    The present miniature desk clock, still retaining its original Cartier fitted travel case, is in wonderfully original condition and is a rare five minute repeating variant. The dial is signed Cartier Paris and London.

  • Artist Biography

    Cartier

    French

    With the Constitution of 1848 came a new standard for luxury in France. Founded one year prior by Louis-Francois Cartier, the house of Cartier was one of the first to use platinum in jewelry making. This incredibly expensive material became the stepping-stone for Cartier to experiment in form, mechanisms and attitude. It helped men move from pocket watches to wristwatches, effectively making the watch much more functional and prominent in a man's overall wardrobe.

    Cartier did not only touch on functionality. Inspired by a commissioned painting by George Barbier featuring a black panther at the feet of an elegantly bejeweled woman, Cartier began incorporating wild animals in his designs—most notably, Cartier Panthère rings, bangle bracelets and watches. Yet it wasn't until the late 1960s that the house of Cartier debuted their iconic yellow and rose gold LOVE collection, which includes the famous bracelet that only a special screwdriver can open. 

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271

A very fine and exceptionally rare miniature silver and enamel five minute repeating desk clock with original fitted travelling case

Circa 1925
48.5 mm width, 67 mm. length and 38 mm. depth
Dial signed Cartier, Paris Londres, case signed and numbered

Estimate
HK$80,000 - 120,000 

Sold for HK$225,000

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Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
thomasperazzi@phillips.com

Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
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Jill Chen
Specialist
+852 2318 2033
jillchen@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE

Hong Kong Auction 1 December 2015 11am