Manufacturer: Cartier Year: Circa 2006 Reference No: 2714 Movement No: 0004 Case No: No.0004 CE Model Name: Tortue Monopoussoir CPCP Material: 18K white gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 045 MC 22 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Cartier deployant clasp Dimensions: 34mm width x 43mm length Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Cartier certificate stamped Cartier London, dated 14th December 2006, instruction manual, red folder, purchase invoice, and fitted Cartier Paris Collection Privée presentation box
Catalogue Essay
The CPCP models are truly collectible, with production of many pieces being limited to 100, and those not explicitly numbered were produced in no more than 500 pieces. Apart from the Tank Cintrée, models are signed Cartier Paris in recognition of the heritage pieces. The designs are perfect blends of vintage Cartier and contemporary watchmaking.
The Cartier Monopoussoir exudes timeless Cartier style, embodying an elegance through its curved, tortoise-inspired case. The CPCP edition was introduced in 1999 in three different metals including white gold, yellow gold, and pink gold. This white gold version is fitted with a guilloché dial signed Cartier Paris, with blued steel hands and black roman numerals. Its white caseback is engraved with No. 004.
As the jeweler had focused on appealing to the mass market during the quartz period, Cartier turned to external suppliers specializing in mechanical movements. With the double swivel pin that activates the central wheel of the Calibre 045MC, the thud of the second hand found in most other chronographs is removed, which allows for a smooth operation of the movement. The chronograph uses the single crown on its rounded side to start, stop, and reset the watch.
This Cartier Monopoussoir Tortue is stunning in both visual and technical aspects and is a beautiful contemporary version of a Cartier heritage piece. It comes with its original and rare CPCP presentation box, red booklet and certificate signed Cartier London. With a mix of the old and the new, it is a breathtaking piece that tells a story of its own.
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.