Cartier | SIHH 2013 New Watch Collection

Cartier

A Succession of Masterpieces, Led by the "Mystery" Duo That Will Go Down in Watchmaking History

The Highly Anticipated In-House Mechanical Chronograph Model Finally Arrives

Over a century has passed since the birth of the Mystery Clock in 1912. This year, Cartier unveiled two remarkable timepieces at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) that utilize the mechanism of the masterpiece "Mystery Clock," once hailed as a "miracle of watchmaking," in their latest wristwatch movements. With advanced technical prowess and rich creativity, Cartier has once again produced watches that transcend imagination.

Text & Event Photographs by YASUHITO SHIBUYA

Cartier is not only the world's foremost jewelry maison but also, today, the most esteemed and noteworthy watchmaking maison in Switzerland. With top-tier talent, including Carole Forestier-Kasapi, head of movement development, and a robust development and manufacturing system, they launched their truly breathtaking Haute Horlogerie collection in earnest from 2009. They have since presented an impressive collection of mechanical watches that captivate watch enthusiasts. Their creations at SIHH 2013 are, as ever, beyond the reach of other maisons.

The highlight, without a doubt, is the complicated watchmaking. Among these, particular attention is drawn to two mystery watches that inherit and evolve the legacy of the 1912 Mystery Clock, which told time with two hands floating in transparent space: the Rotonde de Cartier Double MysteryTourbillon and the Rotonde de Cartier Mystery Watch. We urge not only self-proclaimed watch aficionados but everyone to witness these masterpieces with their own eyes—works that have added a new chapter to watchmaking history.

Furthermore, it is significant news that the highly popular "Calibre de Cartier" watch collection, featuring entirely in-house developed movements, now includes its long-awaited chronograph model. This adds another collection to anticipate further developments from. Additionally, the "Fabulous Jewels of Cartier" high jewelry collection, comprising 41 pieces including 23 unique creations, and new models from the iconic Tank, such as the "Tank Américaine," offer unmissable masterpieces for women and art lovers alike.High Jewelrycollection, alongside new releases from the iconic Tank line like the "Tank Américaine," presents a stunning array of pieces for women and art enthusiasts.

Laziz Hamani © Cartier 2013

Rotonde de Cartier Double Mystery Tourbillon
Rotonde de Cartier Double Mystery Tourbillon

A supremely mysterious tourbillon watch, embodying the maison's tradition and innovation.

Below the center of the dial, within a transparent space beneath the hour and minute hands, a flying tourbillon and its cage, seemingly unconnected to any gears, silently rotate to mark the time. The hour and minute hands, appearing to float in mid-air, indicate the time. This is a masterpiece that marks a new step in watchmaking history, a mysterious tourbillon that represents an evolution and advancement of the "Mystery Clock" born 101 years ago in 1912, captivating royalty and celebrities of the era. The flying tourbillon completes one rotation per minute, while the tourbillon cage rotates once every five minutes.

Hand-wound, platinum case, guilloché slate-colored galvanic dial with a sunray silver-finished openwork grid. Case diameter 45mm. Features the caliber 9454 MC movement, a fully in-house developed and manufactured Double Mystery Tourbillon with 242 components. Sapphire case back, 30m water resistance. Price: ¥15,298,500. Scheduled for release in autumn.

Laziz Hamani © Cartier 2013

Rotonde de Cartier Mystery Watch
Rotonde de Cartier Mystery Watch

A legendary timepiece, reborn as a wristwatch after more than 100 years.

The Mystery Clock, a historic masterpiece from Cartier, is characterized by its mysterious time display where two hands, or rather, two rhodium-plated hands set on sapphire crystal discs, appear to float in mid-air. This "miracle of watchmaking," born from the collaboration between Louis Cartier and the young genius watchmaker Maurice Couet in 1912, has now been realized for the first time in a mechanical mechanism using the latest micro-fabrication technology. Approximately 58% of the movement's area is occupied by four layers of crystal discs for time display, with the remaining space housing the mechanism that accurately drives these discs for about 48 hours.

Hand-wound, 18K white gold case, guilloché slate-colored galvanic dial with a sunray satin-finished openwork grid. Case diameter 42mm. Features the caliber 9981 MC movement, a fully in-house developed and manufactured mechanism with 158 components. Sapphire case back, 30m water resistance. Price: ¥4,914,000. Scheduled for release in autumn.

Calibre de Cartier Chronograph Watch
Calibre de Cartier Chronograph Watch

A chronograph equipped with a newly developed, fully in-house mechanical movement.

The "Calibre de Cartier Watch," launched in 2010 as Cartier's first dedicated men's model, is powered by the "1904 MC" in-house automatic movement. Its classic style, featuring Roman numeral indices, a railway track on the inner bezel, and two sub-dials for elapsed time, embodies Cartier's exquisite taste and tradition. This year, the collection welcomes its chronograph model, incorporating the latest technology into the movement. The newly developed, fully in-house "Calibre 1904-CH MC" movement features a column wheel, vertical clutch, linear reset hammer, precise regulator system, and ceramic ball bearings for durability, along with an innovative bidirectional automatic winding system. This movement is packed with cutting-edge technology.

Automatic winding, pink gold case, silver opaline dial. Case size 42mm. Sapphire case back, 100m water resistance. Price: ¥2,551,500. Scheduled for release in April.

Envol d’un Phœnix Watch
Envol d’un Phœnix Watch

A phoenix dances elegantly on the dial.

This exquisite piece is part of this year's "Fabulous Jewels of Cartier" high jewelry watch collection, themed around metamorphosis and featuring motifs of flowers and animals, which are traditional to the maison. Replacing the panther motif introduced in 2012, a phoenix, symbolizing eternal life, now dynamically circles as the automatic winding rotor on the dial.

Automatic winding. Rhodium-finished white gold case set with brilliant-cut diamonds. White gold crown and deployant buckle set with diamonds. Purple mother-of-pearl dial with feather motifs. Rhodium-finished white gold rotor with a phoenix motif set with emeralds. White alligator strap. Price: ¥15,414,000. Scheduled for release in April.

Tank Américaine
Tank Américaine

The legendary masterpiece, made even more elegant with a glamorous bracelet.

Among Cartier's classic Tank models, the "Tank Américaine," introduced in 1989, has garnered particularly strong support from women. Based on the "Tank Chinoise" designed in the early 1920s, its elongated case with supple curved sides possesses an unforgettable, timeless allure. The classic face, with traditional Roman numeral indices and a silver-finished dial featuring a railway track for the minute counter, is eternally elegant. In 2013, a bracelet model for ladies was added to the history of the Tank Américaine. This bracelet, reminiscent of snakeskin, further enhances the already renowned beauty of the Tank Américaine's form, bestowing an elegant and sophisticated radiance upon the wearer's wrist. It is available in two variations: white gold and pink gold, as pictured. In addition to the model shown, with brilliant-cut diamonds set on the case bezel, a more luxurious version with diamonds also set on the bracelet is available.

Quartz movement. Rhodium-finished white gold case and bracelet set with diamonds. Case dimensions: 34.8mm (length) x 19mm (width). Price: ¥3,559,500. Scheduled for release in April.

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