Manufacturer: Cartier Year: Circa 2013 Reference No: W1556223 Movement No: No. 141 Case No: No. 46 Model Name: Rotonde De Cartier Mystereuse Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 9981MC, 27 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold Cartier folding clasp Dimensions: 42mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Cartier certificate stamped Cartier LMC Chevy Chase dated 22nd August 2013, certificate of origin, instruction manual, cloth, loupe, product literature, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
With a history of creating both mysterious clocks (beginning all the way back in 1912) and mysterious watches, Cartier’s Rotonde Mystérieuse is part of a long line of horologically and mechanically creative inventions that were inspired from an actual magician’s invention from the 1830s, Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin. A state of the art innovation and a triumph to haute horology, the mystery clocks have also become an icon of the Parisian House of Luxury.
The Rotonde De Cartier Mystérieuse is a wonderful modern interpretation of the magical mechanism in wristwatch format. Featuring an off-centred mystery dial, its features oversized Roman numerals against a guilloche background that oozes essence of the brand’s DNA. Cased elegantly in a 42mm diameter pink gold case, the sapphire caseback allows the wearer to admire the intricacy of Cartier’s in-house cal. 9981MC. Offered in excellent overall condition, the present example is also complete with its full set of accessories.
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.