Cartier - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: TWO Hong Kong Monday, May 30, 2016 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Cartier
    Year: Circa 1915
    Case No: Inside case back with hand stamped numbers 2170 & 2006
    Material: Platinum, pink gold, diamonds and topaz
    Calibre: Mechanical
    Dimensions: 74 mm. length and 30 mm. width
    Signed: Dial signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    This pendant watch, suspended from a rectangular-cut topaz weighing approximately 15 carats, is designed in the Belle Époque style, defined by the popular bow motif, which swirls and curves in an intricate and lace-like way. The topaz is mounted on two colour gold with the back of the pendant in pink gold. This feminine style really represents the jewelry of the period, and it comes as no surprise that this style is dubbed 'The Beautiful Era'. Old-cut and rose-cut diamonds furthermore adorn this beautiful piece, which is correct for the period. The watch itself is adorned with bright rose-cut diamonds centering one larger diamond, and features a beautiful Cartier signed dial on the other. The watch is cased in platinum, like most high jewellery pieces of that time.

  • Artist Biography

    Cartier

    French

    With the Constitution of 1848 came a new standard for luxury in France. Founded one year prior by Louis-Francois Cartier, the house of Cartier was one of the first to use platinum in jewelry making. This incredibly expensive material became the stepping-stone for Cartier to experiment in form, mechanisms and attitude. It helped men move from pocket watches to wristwatches, effectively making the watch much more functional and prominent in a man's overall wardrobe.

    Cartier did not only touch on functionality. Inspired by a commissioned painting by George Barbier featuring a black panther at the feet of an elegantly bejeweled woman, Cartier began incorporating wild animals in his designs—most notably, Cartier Panthère rings, bangle bracelets and watches. Yet it wasn't until the late 1960s that the house of Cartier debuted their iconic yellow and rose gold LOVE collection, which includes the famous bracelet that only a special screwdriver can open. 

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330

A very fine, rare and ultra-thin platinum, pink gold and diamond-set openface pendant watch, suspended from a rectangular-cut imperial garland pink topaz brooch

Circa 1915
74 mm. length and 30 mm. width
Dial signed

Estimate
HK$100,000 - 150,000 

Sold for HK$137,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
thomasperazzi@phillips.com

Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
ziyongho@phillips.com

Jill Chen
Specialist
+852 2318 2033
jillchen@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: TWO

Hong Kong Auction 31 May 2016