Lot Essay
For Cartier collectors, wristwatches produced in the early 20th century are beyond desirable. This incredibly rare Cartier London, Tonneau Cintrée was designed to provide a perfect fit on the wrist, and was the largest tonneau shaped model. Introduced in 1906 and produced in extremely small numbers, the Tonneau Cintrée is one of Cartier’s earliest wristwatch designs.
Between 1920 and 1966 when Cartier’s London workshops began producing watches in-house, Cartier’s London branch stocked and sold watches manufactured by Cartier in Paris.
The very name Cartier is a byword for the ultimate in luxury. From the dawn of the 20th century the company’s timepieces have wowed the world’s richest and most demanding clientele, not only for their mechanical excellence and ingenuity but most importantly for the perfection and confidence of their design. Indeed, Cartier is credited with making the first ever men’s wristwatch for the aviator Alberto Santos Dumont.
Between 1920 and 1966 when Cartier’s London workshops began producing watches in-house, Cartier’s London branch stocked and sold watches manufactured by Cartier in Paris.
The very name Cartier is a byword for the ultimate in luxury. From the dawn of the 20th century the company’s timepieces have wowed the world’s richest and most demanding clientele, not only for their mechanical excellence and ingenuity but most importantly for the perfection and confidence of their design. Indeed, Cartier is credited with making the first ever men’s wristwatch for the aviator Alberto Santos Dumont.