BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
As a part of its 2020 novelties, Cartier has launched a new trio of highly complicated watches. A part of the brand’s fine watchmaking collection these new watches offer an unparalleled high horology experience that is quite unlike anything else from the brand. So, let’s have a quick look.
Rotonde de Cartier Mysterious Hour
Launched back in 2013, the Mystery watch can easily be considered as one of the most innovative and intriguing timepieces from Cartier. This latest variation keeps the magic of the previous releases intact with the help of the in-house hand-wound caliber 9983. So, unlike a conventional handset, the hands-on this watch are not directly linked to the movement and are set in motion using two sapphire disks underneath that move when the movement is wound. The dial has been heavily skeletonized and has been divided into two halves. The section on the right features carved Roman numerals to give a view of the movement whereas the left takes care of the actual timekeeping. The case on this watch measures a nice and modern 42mm in diameter and has been crafted from 18k pink gold. The watch would come attached to a black alligator strap.
Grande Complication
So, while the mystery watch believes in keeping things secretive, the Grande complication believes in speaking out loud. What you have here is a more traditional-looking watch with centrally mounted Breguet style hour and minute hands, a Tourbillon at 12, and the perpetual calendar setup that has been spread across 3 sub-dials with days at 3, months at 6 and the date at 9. Once again, the dial has been heavily skeletonized to showcase the complicated internals of the caliber 9406MC that operates at 3 Hz and features a minute repeater over and above normal keeping to sound the hours and minutes by pushing the trigger at 8. The case has been crafted from 18k solid pink gold and measures a large 45mm in diameter to offer some nice wrist presence. The watch would come attached to a charcoal grey alligator strap that complements the dark grey elements on the dial.
Rotonde de Cartier Minute Repeater Mysterious Double Tourbillon
As it borrows quite a bit from the watches we talked about above, this watch can be considered a love child between the two. Firstly, you have the mystery concept which is very much present here as well although with a slightly different implementation. Instead of the hands, it is the tourbillon that moves around mysteriously with the help of the disks that are in turn driven by hidden teeth on their outer periphery. Secondly, you once again have the melodious minute repeater complication that can be triggered using the pusher at 4 and the wearer can the enjoy the gongs and hammers in action on the front itself as the dial once again has been heavily skeletonized to give a nice view of the manually wound caliber 9407 MC. The case like the other two watch measures is made from solid gold and measures 45mm in diameter. The watch would come attached to a charcoal grey real alligator strap.
In all these three watches showcase Cartier’s horological prowess and prove that the brand can do much more than making exclusive high-end jewelry.
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