Manufacturer: Cartier Year: Circa 1990 Movement No: 6774 Case No: 222'934, stamped with French hallmarks Material: 18k yellow gold and diamond Calibre: Manual, cal. 21, 17 jewels Dimensions: 29.5mm diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
This fine Cartier pendant watch is a modern interpretation of the firm’s glorious past. Founded in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier, the firm has been at the forefront of classic design and elegance for both jewellery and watches. Jeweler to kings and queens, the Hollywood elite, and everyday clientele who appreciate the workmanship and quality of their pieces, Cartier is a worldwide brand that delivers the best. The present timepiece is an elegant symbiosis between watches and jewellery with a beautifully designed circular case and diamond-set surround that twists at the top creating the pendant. Worn as a time pieces it has a strictly functional purpose, however its dual purpose is a fine jewellery piece with the added diamonds.
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.