Cartier’s limited timepiece trio pushes aesthetic limits
While Cartier is best known for classics like the Santos and Tank, it has now launched a dramatic trio offering world-class movement – and is expected to turn heads.
Pushing design limitations to the max, the limited edition Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Precious Icons Set is inspired by floating dials and boasts complex, stunning tourbillon designs.
In addition to creating Geneva Seal movements, Cartier has unleashed incredible levels of craftsmanship with its new mechanical timepieces from the Rotonde de Cartier watch collection that combine two complications – the skeleton and the mysterious.
The lavish wooden presentation box includes the Rotonde de Cartier Skeleton Mysterious Double Tourbillon, Rotonde de Cartier Astromystérieux and Rotonde de Cartier Astrotourbillon.
And it really will be an out of this world mission to get a set, as only five have been created!
Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Skeleton Mysterious Double Tourbillon
With a fairly minimalistic platinum case, this watch offers an elegant profile, narrow bezel and petite lugs. At just 45mm wide and almost 12mm thick, it features the signature Cartier cabochon crown in jade at 3 o’clock.
But it’s the skeleton dial that is just incredible if you want a perfect view of the brand-created 9565 MC hand-wound tourbillon movement which offers a fabulous 52 hours power reserve.
The flying tourbillon is the masterpiece of this creation as it appears to be free from restraints and to levitate thanks to a mystery sapphire disk. But there’s no second tourbillon, as you may understand from the title – it’s the flying tourbillon that rotates and revolves. How clever is that? It spins on an axis every minute, while completing a lap of the skeleton sundial every five minutes.
Fine Breguet hands and a jade green alligator strap to finish the piece beautifully.
Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Astrotourbillon
Slightly larger than its brother at 47mm, the Astrotourbillon is based on the same platinum case and continues with the same architectural theme, this time with two huge Roman numeral bridges at 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock.
Again, the entire movement seems to hover as the model’s tourbillon escapement is placed on top of it rather than being integrated with the rest of the design.
Five years in the making, the 9641 MC hand-wound tourbillon movement with a 48-hour power reserve, is designed for maximum aesthetic impact with a top-mounted central tourbillon and lengthy bridges supporting the gear train.
Another crown and strap matching here, this time in midnight blue.
Rotonde de Cartier Astromystérieuxm
Last but not least in this fabulous trilogy is the Astromystérieuxm, with a floating calibre 9462 MC at the centre. This design has been again created with a 43.5mm platinum case and rather aptly takes its name from celestial objects orbiting in space.
The mystery dial that actually anchors the watch was first debuted by Cartier back in 1912 based on a concept by an illusionist. The 55-hour power reserve movement is suspended inside the tourbillon carriage, which is fixed to a clear rotating sapphire disc, creating the impression of an orbiting movement as it completes one full rotation every 60 minutes.
The outer ring, made up of anthracite grey and Roman numerals, adds an extra level of depth to the design. The watch’s beaded crown matches the teal strap beautifully, making a striking timepiece.
All three watches are presented in a beautiful box, decorated with airbrushed wood marquetry in a mosaic pattern.
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