Live Auction 1353Important Pocketwatches and Wristwatches
Cartier. An extremely fine and rare 18K white gold and diamond-set self-winding wristwatch with one minute tourbillon, power reserve and bracelet
Lot 281 VARIOUS PROPERTIES

Cartier. An extremely fine and rare 18K white gold and diamond-set self-winding wristwatch with one minute tourbillon, power reserve and bracelet

SIGNED CARTIER, AUTOMATIC, DIABOLO MODEL, CASE NOS. T 1103 AND 676'649, MOVEMENT NO. 12100 061, CIRCA 1990

Closed12 May 2008

Price Realised

CHF 193,000

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

How to sell

Cartier. An extremely fine and rare 18K white gold and diamond-set self-winding wristwatch with one minute tourbillon, power reserve and bracelet
Signed Cartier, Automatic, Diabolo model, case nos. T 1103 and 676'649, movement no. 12100 061, circa 1990
Cartier cal. 102 finely pierced and engraved lever movement, 39 jewels, pierced and engraved white gold rotor, the engine-turned silvered dial with Roman numerals, blued steel moon-style hands, the three armed polished steel tourbillon carriage combined with constant seconds visible through a glazed aperture to 6 o'clock, fan-shaped sector for the 64 hour power reserve to 12 o'clock, in circular case with diamond-set crown, the bezel set with princess-cut diamonds, the glazed display back secured by eight screws, the slender downturned lugs set with diamonds to all sides, the 18K white gold Cartier bracelet set with six rows of princess-cut diamonds, 18K white gold hidden clasp, case, dial and movement signed
37 mm. diam.

Specialist note

Most certainly either a unique piece made to special order or part of an exceedingly small series of such fully diamond-set watches, the present watch impresses with a total of approximately 301 diamonds of approx. 30 to 40 carats.

The setting of the diamonds is following Van Cleef & Arpels "invisibly set" technique, invented in Paris in the late 1920s. An icon of the Art Deco period, this style is enjoying enormous popularity still today. It originated from the desire of showing only the precious stones while hiding the mountings. By carving a groove in the side of the gem's pavilion and sliding it along rails of precious metal, setting gemstone next to gemstone, the metal is masked and the appearance of a ribbon of precious stones is given.

The furthermore like new condition combined with a highly sophisticated, self-winding tourbillon movement render this watch extremely appealing for the connoisseur of such fine timepieces.