Live Auction 1357Important Watches
Cartier. An extremely fine and rare 18K gold rectangular jump hour wristwatch
Lot 116

Cartier. An extremely fine and rare 18K gold rectangular jump hour wristwatch

SIGNED CARTIER, MADE IN FRANCE, TANK À GUICHETS MODEL, CASE NOS. 27'386 AND 3713, MOVEMENT NO. 27'455, MOVEMENT SIGNED EUROPEAN WATCH AND CLOCK CO., INC, CIRCA 1931

Closed17 November 2008

Price Realised

CHF 35,000

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Cartier. An extremely fine and rare 18K gold rectangular jump hour wristwatch
Signed Cartier, Made in France, Tank à Guichets model, case nos. 27'386 and 3713, movement no. 27'455, movement signed European Watch and Clock Co., Inc, circa 1931
Circular nickel-finished lever movement, 19 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, the jumping Arabic hours and minutes visible through two apertures in the satin-finished front, rectangular case inscribed RLDM and surrounded by the engraved cities Jerusalem, Beirut, Damascus, Petra, back secured by four screws in the straight sides, screwed lugs, cabochon sapphire-set crown, 18K pink gold Cartier deployant clasp numbered 9885 and stamped EJ for Edmond Jaeger, case stamped and numbered, movement signed European Watch and Clock Co., Inc.
20 mm. wide & 28 mm. overall length

Specialist note

The present watch is a beautiful example of one of Cartier's "Digital" wristwatches and stands out by its excellent overall condition, showing no signs of extensive wear or any polishing. Consequently, the engraved and stamped inscriptions, numerals and hallmarks are incredibly crisp.

The so-called "Digital" or "Jump Hour" watches enjoyed a great popularity between the late 1920s and the mid 1930s, the sober and purely functional design reflecting the period of great economic depression following the Wall Street crash in 1929.

Cartier's "Tank à Guichets" wristwatch was launched in the late 1920s in several variations as to the positioning and shape of the windows, the crown (flat, faceted or with a sapphire cabochon, to 3 o'clock or 12 o'clock) and the case finishing (either brushed to obtain a matte, satin-finished look or polished or a combination of both).

For a description and illustration of the "Tank à Guichets" model see Cartier - The Tank wristwatch by Franco Cologni, pp. 206 & 207.