Cartier Paris Art Deco Rock Crystal Skeleton Watch

$21,500
Designed circa 1925-1930 by Cartier Paris, this unusual skeleton watch is composed of rock crystal, platinum, diamonds, and a Jaeger movement, and is offered with a later platinum and seed pearl chain. The case with a triangular platinum bow is formed of a polished rock crystal disk with faceted borders and edged by platinum, the skeletonized rose-cut diamond Roman numeral chapter ring surrounding the silvered engine-turned dial and minute ring with abstract numeral indicators and blued steel "Breguet" hands. Its Jaeger European Watch & Clock 19-jewel lever escapement movement with Côtes de Genève decoration has 8 adjustments. The several variations of this elegant Cartier rock crystal watch of slim dimensions proved enduringly popular throughout the 1910s-1920s, with this uncommon skeletonized version adding a definite touch of mystery and intrigue to the design.
Category: Cartier Gifts $20,000 - $50,000 Jewelry New Acquisitions Watches & Timepieces
Product Details

Item #: W-21768
Artist: Cartier
Country: France
Circa: 1925-1930
Materials: Rock Crystal; 100 rose-cut diamonds (approximate total weight 1.00 carats); Platinum
Gram Weight: 38.3
Signed: CARTIER, 810, French assay marks, partial maker's marks, EUROPEAN WATCH & CLOCK Co. Inc, 19 JEWELS, 8ADJ. SWISS, R A
Literature: For pocket watches of a similar design, see Le Temps de Cartier, by Massmimo Barracca, p. 86, and Cartier 1900-1939, by Judy Rudoe, p.243

Item #: W-21768
Artist: Cartier
Country: France
Circa: 1925-1930
Materials: Rock Crystal; 100 rose-cut diamonds (approximate total weight 1.00 carats); Platinum
Gram Weight: 38.3
Signed: CARTIER, 810, French assay marks, partial maker's marks, EUROPEAN WATCH & CLOCK Co. Inc, 19 JEWELS, 8ADJ. SWISS, R A
Literature: For pocket watches of a similar design, see Le Temps de Cartier, by Massmimo Barracca, p. 86, and Cartier 1900-1939, by Judy Rudoe, p.243

Curator's Notes
According to Hans Nadelhoeffer, who was given full access to the extensive archives while writing Cartier: Jewellers Extraordinary, the New York watch maker Braun "achieved the creation of of an extra-thin rock crystal watch with invisible diamond setting and winder" in 1910. Despite this popular innovation by the firm's New York expert, the supply of watches for Cartier's American clients came mainly from Paris, where Cartier's subsidiary European Watch & Clock Co. had a successful relationship with Edmond Jaeger, who had offices both in Paris and Switzerland, as well as a representative in New York. For a time, Cartier had exclusive rights to Jaeger's pocket and wristwatch production. These slim rock crystal pocket watches created by European Watch & Clock and Jaeger came in several variations, some with enamel and other embellishments. For an in-depth discussion of the firm's important innovations in the field of clocks and watches, see Nadelhoffer, "The Jeweled Flight of Time", pp. 245-276.
According to Hans Nadelhoeffer, who was given full access to the extensive archives while writing Cartier: Jewellers Extraordinary, the New York watch maker Braun "achieved the creation of of an extra-thin rock crystal watch with invisible diamond setting and winder" in 1910. Despite this popular innovation by the firm's New York expert, the supply of watches for Cartier's American clients came mainly from Paris, where Cartier's subsidiary European Watch & Clock Co. had a successful relationship with Edmond Jaeger, who had offices both in Paris and Switzerland, as well as a representative in New York. For a time, Cartier had exclusive rights to Jaeger's pocket and wristwatch production. These slim rock crystal pocket watches created by European Watch & Clock and Jaeger came in several variations, some with enamel and other embellishments. For an in-depth discussion of the firm's important innovations in the field of clocks and watches, see Nadelhoffer, "The Jeweled Flight of Time", pp. 245-276.
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