Cartier - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: X Hong Kong Friday, July 10, 2020 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Cartier
    Year: Circa 1915
    Movement No: 27'226
    Case No: Hand-stamped 19958 and 27226, with French assay marks
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Gilt buckle
    Dimensions: 38mm overall length
    Signed: Case and movement signed European Watch & Clock Co., and numbered, dial signed by retailer.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Cartier has long been a brand synonymous with luxury, quality and style. Since their early beginnings in the mid-19th century to their world-wide global reach today, celebrities, royalty and the everyday man have entered their boutiques for jewellery, watches, fragrances and more. One of their most prolific design periods was the early 20th century when they created iconic watches such as the Santos, the Cintrée and like the present timepiece, the tonneau-shaped case.

    Elongated and barrel-like, Cartier first introduced the design in 1906 and over the years continued to manufacture and refine this stylistic wristwatch. With the Art Deco period, the shape rose in popularity with both men and women, and watch brands from Patek Philippe to Vacheron Constantin produced their own unique tonneau-shaped timepieces. Today, makers like Richard Mille have modernised the look with a compressed case, and Cartier still retails tonneau-shaped watches, which maintain the flare and appeal of the original 1906 examples.

    The present watch from the early 20th century is a fine example with four prong lugs, the watch is a wonderful representation of the iconic design of Cartier.

  • 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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999

A lady’s elegant and early yellow gold tonneau-shaped wristwatch

Circa 1915
38mm overall length
Case and movement signed European Watch & Clock Co., and numbered, dial signed by retailer.

Estimate
HK$23,500 - 39,000 
€2,600-4,300
$3,000-5,000

Sold for HK$32,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi

Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001

WatchesHK@phillips.com

 

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: X

Hong Kong Auction 10 July 2020