Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is thrilled to welcome you to Watches Online: The New York Sessions Featuring the 1979 Collection, Spring 2025, running from 10:00 AM ET, Tuesday, 1 April, to 12:00 PM ET, Tuesday, 8 April. Featuring more than 65 different high-end luxury wristwatches, the sale covers everything from A. Lange & Söhne and F.P. Journe to Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe, including all the watches featured below.
– By Logan Baker
Few watchmakers have explored the expressive potential of form quite like Cartier. While others may rely on round cases and conventional silhouettes, Cartier has built its identity around bold geometry, architectural influences, and a fearless commitment to design. From squares and rectangles to tortue-shaped curves and temple-inspired lines, the brand's most iconic timepieces are defined as much by their shape as by their legacy.
This curated group of four exceptional watches showcases the incredible range of Cartier’s design language — each piece a distinct expression of the brand’s vision for what a wristwatch can be.
The elegantly elongated Tank Cintrée, with its curved rectangular case, reimagines the classic Tank shape with fluid lines and graceful proportion. The Tortue Monopoussoir, with its rounded, tortoise-inspired case, blends early 20th-century charm with complicated watchmaking.
In the Santos-Dumont XL, we see the power of simplicity: a square-within-a-rectangle form first made for flight, now reinterpreted with bold materials and jade-set numerals. And finally, the striking Tank Chinoise — an angular celebration of temple architecture — returns in platinum as part of Cartier’s Privé Collection, marking a century since its original debut.
Together, these timepieces tell a story not just of heritage, but of form, proportion, and Cartier’s unmatched ability to turn geometry into timeless design.
Lot 8: A Circa 2024 Cartier Tank Cintrée, numbered No. 1, in Platinum
Estimate: USD $20,000 - 40,000
Cartier introduced the Tank Cintrée in 1921 as the boldest evolution of the iconic Tank, first launched in 1919. By elongating the classic square silhouette and introducing a graceful curve to the case, Cartier created a strikingly elegant rectangular form — one that not only commands attention but also sits beautifully on the wrist.
A hallmark of Cartier’s design language, the Tank Cintrée has appeared throughout the maison’s history, from early 20th-century creations to the celebrated 2021 limited edition marking the model’s 100th anniversary. Its signature curved profile, pronounced brancards, elongated Roman numerals, Breguet-style hands, and chemin-de-fer minute track make the Cintrée instantly recognizable and endlessly refined.
The present example, crafted in platinum and bearing the distinction “No. 1,” is likely unique. Specially commissioned through Cartier’s New Special Order (NSO) program, this piece was created for a collector with exceptional taste. The salmon dial is nothing short of spectacular, accented by lacquered blue Roman numerals and a black chemin-de-fer track. The ruby cabochon set into the crown — Cartier’s subtle nod to platinum — adds a final touch of elegance.
Offered by its original owner and in unworn, pristine condition, this Tank Cintrée comes complete with its Certificate of Origin and presentation box. With its rare combination of platinum and a salmon-colored dial, this bespoke Cintrée is a superb tribute to a century of Cartier watchmaking — a perfect piece for the connoisseur who values design, heritage, and rarity.
Lot 40: A Circa 2010 Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir Chronograph in 18k White Gold
Estimate: USD $20,000 - 40,000
Launched in 1998, the Cartier Privée Paris Collection (CPCP) gave Cartier a platform to reintroduce and reinterpret some of its most iconic and beloved wristwatches — including the remarkable Tortue Monopoussoir.
Cartier first debuted the Tortue-shaped case in 1912, followed by the introduction of its first monopusher chronograph in 1928. That early chronograph was distinguished by a single pusher integrated into the crown, allowing for start, stop, and reset functions with one seamless control. The combination of the Tortue form and monopusher functionality has since become a defining expression of Cartier’s innovative spirit and timeless design.
At the heart of this model is the hand-wound, ultra-thin caliber 045MC, a movement prized by collectors not only for its technical finesse but also for its horological pedigree — it was designed by François-Paul Journe and co-developed with Denis Flageollet and Vianney Halter, three of modern watchmaking’s most respected names. Housed in a beautifully proportioned white gold case, the single-button chronograph is paired with a refined two-register dial, accented with Cartier’s signature blue details for a crisp and contemporary aesthetic.
The present example is offered in what appears to be unpolished, original condition — a rare and desirable state. As one of the standout pieces from the CPCP lineup, the Tortue Monopoussoir continues to be a favorite among discerning collectors who appreciate both technical mastery and enduring elegance.
Lot 66: A Circa 2024 Cartier Santos-Dumont XL Limited Edition in 18k Pink Gold with Green Jade Roman Numerals
Estimate: USD $12,000 - 24,000
First introduced in 1904, the Cartier Santos-Dumont was created by Louis Cartier for his friend, the legendary Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873–1932). Designed specifically for flight, the watch featured a square case, bold Roman numerals, and a leather strap — an elegant yet highly functional timepiece that made it easy to read and wear in the cockpit.
In 2023, Cartier unveiled the Santos-Dumont XL collection at Watches and Wonders, offering a fresh and luxurious take on this historic model. Each version pairs precious metals — yellow gold, rose gold, and platinum — with striking mineral-set Roman numerals, adding a bold and unexpected layer of refinement. The brushed case surfaces are beautifully balanced with polished bezels and bevels, all housed in a substantial yet well-proportioned 46.6mm by 33.9mm XL case.
Each edition in the collection has its own distinct character: yellow gold with blue dumortierite numerals, platinum with red jasper numerals, and — as seen in the present example — rose gold with rich green jade numerals. The pink gold model is further enhanced by a jade cabochon crown, pomme-style hands, and a guilloché dial center that shimmers with depth and texture.
Offered in new, unworn condition by the original owner, this Santos-Dumont XL is complete with its Cartier warranty and presentation box — a striking modern tribute to Cartier’s pioneering spirit and timeless design.
Lot 67: A Circa 2022 Cartier Tank Chinoise Limited Edition in Platinum
Estimate: USD $15,000 - 30,000
Originally introduced in 1922, the Cartier Tank Chinoise reimagined the classic Tank wristwatch through the lens of Chinese architectural design. Inspired by the bold lines of traditional temple porticos, the Chinoise distinguished itself with prominent horizontal brancards at 12 and 6 o’clock — an architectural flourish that set it apart within Cartier’s celebrated family of timepieces.
To mark the 100th anniversary of this distinctive design, Cartier revived the Tank Chinoise in 2022 as part of the prestigious Cartier Privé Collection. Offered in limited editions of yellow gold, pink gold, and platinum, the modern reinterpretation introduced a more elongated rectangular case — a departure from the smaller, square-shaped case of the beloved CPCP version produced between 1998 and 2008. This contemporary update preserves the elegance of the original while enhancing its presence on the wrist.
The present watch, crafted in platinum and numbered 143 of just 150 pieces, is offered in virtually brand-new condition by the original owner. Complete with its full suite of accessories, it represents a rare opportunity to acquire a modern Cartier icon — thoughtfully reimagined, superbly executed, and imbued with a century of design heritage.
You can view the complete catalog for the Phillips Watches Online: The New York Sessions Featuring the 1979 Collection, Spring 2025, right here.
Our new online auction app for iOS offers a seamless way to browse and bid in online auctions. Download now to bid in the Phillips Watches Online: The New York Sessions Featuring the 1979 Collection, Spring 2025. Phillips Online is currently only available on iOS. Android users can browse and bid via their mobile browser.
About Phillips In Association With Bacs & Russo
The team of specialists at PHILLIPS Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency, and client service. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo holds the world record for the most successful watch auction, with its Geneva Watch Auction: XIV having realized $74.5 million in 2021. Over the course of 2021 and 2022, the company sold 100% of the watches offered, a first in the industry, resulting in the highest annual total in history across all the auction houses at $227 million.
About Logan Baker
Logan has spent the past decade reporting on every aspect of the watch business. He joined Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo at the start of 2023 as the department's Senior Editorial Manager. He splits his time between New York and Geneva.
Recommended Reading
Three References, One Legacy, A Look at the Patek Philippe Calatrava
Highlights from the 1979 Collection
Specialists' Picks: The New York Sessions Featuring the 1979 Collection, Spring 2025