Cartier is one of those magical names that immediately bring to mind a bygone era of lavish lifestyle and Parisian chic. The “King of Jewelers, Jewelers to Kings”, it’s a rare jewelry brand whose horological creations have been so influential in the development and success of the wristwatch. The present lot is a hardly ever seen “Tortue à Pattes” single button chronograph from 1929. An example of the emblematic designs Cartier is known for, the Tortue case was invented by them in 1912 and is a modified version of the tonneau shape, with shorter lugs and a wider center resembling a turtle’s shell – thus the name “tortue”. The case of the present example is characterized by slightly longer lugs, and is known as the Tortue à Pattes, or turtle on legs. Whereas Cartier was always in charge of its exuberant designs, in the early 20th century, it partnered with the best movement makers for the supply of calibers. The exquisite, single-button chronograph movement in the present example was made exclusively for Cartier by the European Watch Company, a joint, Paris-based company established in the early 1920s between Cartier and Edmond Jaeger (who would later join forces with LeCoultre to create Jaeger-LeCoultre). Breathtakingly thin and fine, the present lot is not only a superbly crafted wristwatch with a daring design, but also an extremely rare timepiece as only a handful of these single button Tortue à Pattes chronographs have appeared at auction in the past decade. The present lot is sure to please the sophisticated collector looking for a timepiece combining rarity, exceptional watchmaking, exclusivity, and stunning design.