Manufacturer: Cartier and Audemars Piguet Year: Circa 1970s Movement No: 117'783 Case No: 61’549 Model Name: Maxi Oval Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, cal. K2050, 20 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Case, dial, and buckle signed Cartier, movement signed Audemars Piguet. Dimensions: 28mm width x 56mm length Signed: Case, dial, movement, and deployant buckle signed
Catalogue Essay
Cartier’s rich history holds immense importance in the realm of vintage wristwatch design, representing a profound legacy of innovation, elegance, and sophistication. From pioneering the use of platinum in jewelry-making to introducing the first mens’ wristwatch, the “Santos,” in 1904, Cartier has continuously reshaped the landscape of horology. Their trailblazing spirit is epitomized by their iconic Tank, Baignoire, and Tortue collections, which revolutionized wristwatch design with their unique shapes, bold lines, and timeless elegance.
The present watch is an extremely rare and impressive example of the “Maxi Oval” sold by Cartier New York during the early 1970s. While similar in appearance to the ‘Maxi Oval’ series by Cartier London, the present watch is distinguished by its larger case and elongated Roman numerals, often attracting greater interest from collectors. The daring styling, with a highly curved, convex case, and bold Roman numerals captured the spirit of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when brands were experimenting with bold designs to make their mechanical watches stand out against the threat of low-cost quartz watches.
Inside is a superb, manually wound movement made and signed by Audemars Piguet. Some scholars believe that Audemars Piguet may have made the watch in its entirety as a private label for Cartier due to the challenging financial climate at the time brought on by the Quartz Crisis. Preserved in outstanding, original condition with a pristine dial and the original Cartier deployant buckle, the present watch is a “best of both worlds” timepiece, combining the best of Cartier’s emblematic designs with the exquisite watchmaking of Audemars Piguet.