Among the most magnificent, enchanting, and captivating horological wonders of the 20th century, Cartier’s mystery clocks undoubtedly stand out as some of the most extraordinary creations ever made. Few brands have ever produced such magical, inventive, and remarkable timepieces as Cartier. The mystery clock served as the ideal canvas for the brand to demonstrate its boundless creativity, resulting from a fusion of two core principles: combining exquisite craftsmanship with the art of horology.

Truly a first of its kind, the Modèle A Mystery clock made its debut in 1912 and immediately captivated the world with its seemingly levitated hands within its pellucid block-shaped rock crystal. These early creations of the Modèle A were bejewelled art pieces that highlights the mastery of Cartier’s craftsmanship and design skills. First devised with a double-axle mechanism and soon after with a single central axle, the “Mystery” is solved thanks to the separate crystal disc hidden within. These discs are each surrounded by a tooth-edged boarder and driven by screws fixed at the ends of the axles, working at the levels of 3 and 9 o’clock, the driving pinions of the hands are hidden in each column of the frame. The rotation of the axles is activated by the movement hidden in the base, therefore, it is not the hands which move but each disc on which they are individually set at two different speeds, one for the hours and one for the minutes.

A ground breaking timepiece, Modèle A Mystery Clocks were bought by glamorous celebrities and important figures of the society such as banker John Pierpont Morgan, Count Greffulhe and Sir Bhupindra Singh, the maharajah of Patiala. Each unique, these handmade clocks boasted variations on the type of base: agate, onyx, obsidian, nephrite, lapis lazuli, gold and jade, while other difference involved the decorations on the frames and chapter rings.

The concept of the floating hands clock was created by Maurice Coüet, a clockmaker who initially supplied Cartier before joining the company. Coüet was inspired by the work of Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, a 19th-century clockmaker and magician, who is credited with inventing the mystery clock design.

The present example is fitted with a stylish mother-of-pearl bezel and frame upon an onyx base, with gold flowers indicating the hours. Gold beadwork trims furthermore add to the design and flair. Its condition is exceptional, with all panels intact. Furthermore, the rock crystal dial and clock itself does not display cracks or fissures. 

A well-preserved objet d’art having first appeared on the market three decades ago, this historically significant Mystery clock will most likely remain hidden and cherished again for many years to come. Extremely limited in production according to scholarship only approximately 60 examples were made of the Modèle A. Its public sale at auction offers a unique chance for collections to acquire one of the greatest optical illusion of horological history.