From the Auctions. Christie’s presents an extraordinary collection of 101 Cartier clocks

an interesting and exclusive collection of pieces from the french maison

▣ JUNE 21, 2020 by ENRICO AURILI

Christie’s will open the month of July with one of the most important collections of Cartier clocks, 101 décor and travel clocks from the prestigious Parisian jewelry store.
The auction will held exclusively online, with bidding starting on 7th July and ending on the 21st of the same month with an auction estimate of CHF 3,588,000. The viewing will be possible at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva from 17 to 21 July.
The title of the auction A Lifetime of Collecting want to highlight the Cartier clocks that marked the twentieth century, from Belle Epoque to Art Deco, to the exemplars produced in the 80s, all characterized by the influences that made the maison famous at the same time, those inspired by the Louis XVI style as those with exotic and oriental themes.

The selection of the 101 Cartier clocks is distinguished by the extraordinary finesse and peculiarity of the elaborations that see the use of diamonds, hard stones and crystals, champlevé and guilloché enamels, lacquers, ivories up to achieve the techniques inspired by Tian-tsui, a technique which use the application of the delicate feathers of the Martin fisherman (lot 100).

Lot 100, Cartier form Deco period with rock crystal, lapislazzuli, jade, turquoise, glazes and martin fisherman’s feathers that decorate the hour ring.

In addition to the extraordinary and refined cases, Cartier has distinguished itself by the audacity of some designs such the mysterious models and the wandering hours (also known as Chronoscope).
Approximately Louis Cartier began the creation of these watches in 1912, thanks to the collaboration of the master watchmaker Maurice Coet, which was inspired at the same time by the extraordinary illusionist talent of Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin.
The production of Cartier clocks has not been limited to these pieces because in the catalog it’s possible to admire also pieces with full calendar and minutes repeater.