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Cartier
An attractive and charming yellow gold purse watch with blue enamel decoration and cabochon sapphires
Full-Cataloguing
- Purse watch
- Sold by Cartier Paris
- Extremely well-preserved, showcasing enamel work that is very much evocative of the art deco era
Cartier's "purse watch" was an Art Deco timepiece made for evening bags and pocket transport in the 1920s and 1940s. Featuring sliding or shutter mechanisms, they bridged high fashion and fine watchmaking through partnerships with the European Watch & Clock Co. and Jaeger-LeCoultre. A modern and stylish timepiece perfectly suited to the Art Deco era, the purse watch offered its creators an opportunity to explore new forms and innovative decorative techniques. Purse watches were adorned with a variety of decoration, from lacquer, to hardstone, diamonds and also gem-set stones.
The present example, preserved in extremely remarkable condition, features a blue enamel motif throughout which is very much evocative of the art deco era. The pushers are made of cabochon sapphires, and pressing them reveals the watch underneath. This purse watch was most notably sold by Cartier Paris, which was arguably the most creative branch during the 1920s and 1930s.
Cartier
FrenchWith 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.