If it is for us to mention every title earned by the French jewelcrafting workshop Cartier across time, we’d have some serious business on our hands. For example, King Edward VII of England himself had named the brand “the jeweler of kings and kings of jewelers”. The manufacturers of the uniquely beautiful Panthère brooch, unveiled back in the 1940s, for Wallis Simpson “Duchess of Windsor”, are now enticing us with an exclusive preview of the Rotende de Cartier 42 mm Panther with Granulation.
This exquisite timepiece is programmed to known an official release on the occasion of the 2013 edition of the SIHH, on the 21st of January. The already 165 year old iconic panther symbol of Cartier is present on this watch as well, part of the Cartier d’Art line. This particular piece measures 42 mm in diameter and comes as proof of the exemplary skill of the artists behind it, who have been using millennia-old goldsmithing techniques to manufacture the superb granulation so evident on the piece’s dial.
These techniques involve the fusion of the gold granules, resulting in a particularly stunning exotic pattern which has known its highest point during the 1st millennium in Etruria. The famous Etruscan granulated items have resiliently stood the test of time. The panther motif on the dial of this Rotende de Cartier gadget has been realized from 22-carat yellow gold, each tiny gold granule having been carefully applied by hand, one at a time. This is the reason behind the exquisite sparkle of the dial, which can be admired from virtually any angle.
On the other hand, the case of the watch was manufactured from 18-carat yellow gold and comes encrusted with 306 brilliant cut diamonds, summing up at around 3.63 carats. The beaded crown, in yellow gold, is peaked by a sole diamond. Inside, the Rotende de Cartier 42 mm Panther with Granulation boasts the Manufacture mechanical manually-wound movement caliber 9601 MC. The strapping is crafted from matt black alligator skin.
Sadly, this magnificent watch is quite exclusive and requires extensive work. It will only be manufactured in 20 units.
[Cartier]
