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Lot Essay
A unique and truly spectacular creation in gold and precious stones from Cartier’s supremely talented jewellers whose painstaking work took an incredible 2,270 hours to complete this one-of-a-kind masterpiece. It is one of the ultimate statement Cartier timepieces – the mechanical mystery clock.
The sculptural styling combines with one of Cartier’s other emblematic ranges, the Panthère. The result is this fabulous Panthère mystery clock, constructed in 18k white gold, rock crystal, white diamonds, grey diamonds, emeralds, blue sapphires, rock crystal, blue chalcedony, and satin-polished hematite, its appearance is astonishing and dazzling.
Also a timepiece of great beauty, this Pendule Mysterieuse’ is a remarkable horological achievement. One of the most visually spectacular of all watchmaking inventions is the ‘Heures Mystérieuses’ time display, the hands having the appearance of floating in mid-air without any apparent connection to the movement. Particularly associated with Cartier, who made the most exquisite mystery timepieces in the 20th century, the true ‘Heures Mystérieuses’ is a great delight and very rare. The present hand-wound 8-day going clock with single diamond-set arrow hand is thus described by Cartier: “Suspended as if by magic between the dazzling white of the diamonds, the pure transparency of the rock crystal, and the azure of the chalcedony, the arrow marks each precious moment in time.”
Made from around 1103 grams of 18k white gold, 2264 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 67.25 carats, 22 baguette-cut diamonds totaling 4.2 carats, as well as emeralds, sapphires, and semi-precious stones, this exquisite tour-de-force of the craftsman’s art represents Cartier’s contemporary workmanship at its very best, with a quality and style that completely transcends fashion. Evoking the history and romance of the great jewellery house of Cartier, the Panthère timepieces perpetuate the beauty of the legendary Panthère jewels that have captivated generations of Cartier’s clients.
Mystery Clocks
The art of illusion fascinates adults and children alike. We are all spellbound when magicians deceive the eye with sleight of hand and deft trickery, believing they achieve the impossible while knowing perfectly well that it is just illusion. Maurice Couet perfected the art of illusion with the mystery clocks that Cartier offered from 1913. The Mystery Clocks by Cartier became instant hits, and the first one manufactured by Couet was purchased by J.P. Morgan, the famous American financier.
Based on the Pendules Mystérieuses of the 19th century, a selection of which was exhibited at the 1878 Paris World Fair, the mechanism of these clocks is hidden in the frame such that the hands seem to float in space without any connection to the movement. Since every part is hand-made, each clock originally took from three to twelve months to finish; employing not only the watchmaker but also the designer, the orfèvre-boîtier, the enameller, the lapidary, the setter, the engraver and the polisher. Even with the help of modern technology, it still takes two years to complete a clock such as the present one.
Cartier
The House of Cartier was founded in 1847 when the 28-year-old Louis-François Cartier took over a shop at 29 rue Montorgueil in Paris. His son Alfred took control of the company in 1874, by which time it already had an excellent reputation. However, it was Alfred’s three sons - Louis, Pierre and Jacques — who would go on to establish Cartier as a world-famous jewellery brand.
While Louis retained the responsibility for Paris, in 1902 Jacques went to London and only two years later received the Royal Warrant, thereby supplying jewellery to King Edward VII and his court. Pierre travelled to New York where, in 1917, he famously acquired 653 Fifth Avenue for two strands of the very finest pearls. This piece of prime real estate remains a flagship store to this day.
Since then the Maison has expanded globally, becoming what many consider to be the finest jewellery house in the world. Its clientele has encompassed royalty, film stars and business tycoons. King Farouk of Egypt, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and Clark Gable all made their way to Cartier to buy or have their jewellery made.
The sculptural styling combines with one of Cartier’s other emblematic ranges, the Panthère. The result is this fabulous Panthère mystery clock, constructed in 18k white gold, rock crystal, white diamonds, grey diamonds, emeralds, blue sapphires, rock crystal, blue chalcedony, and satin-polished hematite, its appearance is astonishing and dazzling.
Also a timepiece of great beauty, this Pendule Mysterieuse’ is a remarkable horological achievement. One of the most visually spectacular of all watchmaking inventions is the ‘Heures Mystérieuses’ time display, the hands having the appearance of floating in mid-air without any apparent connection to the movement. Particularly associated with Cartier, who made the most exquisite mystery timepieces in the 20th century, the true ‘Heures Mystérieuses’ is a great delight and very rare. The present hand-wound 8-day going clock with single diamond-set arrow hand is thus described by Cartier: “Suspended as if by magic between the dazzling white of the diamonds, the pure transparency of the rock crystal, and the azure of the chalcedony, the arrow marks each precious moment in time.”
Made from around 1103 grams of 18k white gold, 2264 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 67.25 carats, 22 baguette-cut diamonds totaling 4.2 carats, as well as emeralds, sapphires, and semi-precious stones, this exquisite tour-de-force of the craftsman’s art represents Cartier’s contemporary workmanship at its very best, with a quality and style that completely transcends fashion. Evoking the history and romance of the great jewellery house of Cartier, the Panthère timepieces perpetuate the beauty of the legendary Panthère jewels that have captivated generations of Cartier’s clients.
Mystery Clocks
The art of illusion fascinates adults and children alike. We are all spellbound when magicians deceive the eye with sleight of hand and deft trickery, believing they achieve the impossible while knowing perfectly well that it is just illusion. Maurice Couet perfected the art of illusion with the mystery clocks that Cartier offered from 1913. The Mystery Clocks by Cartier became instant hits, and the first one manufactured by Couet was purchased by J.P. Morgan, the famous American financier.
Based on the Pendules Mystérieuses of the 19th century, a selection of which was exhibited at the 1878 Paris World Fair, the mechanism of these clocks is hidden in the frame such that the hands seem to float in space without any connection to the movement. Since every part is hand-made, each clock originally took from three to twelve months to finish; employing not only the watchmaker but also the designer, the orfèvre-boîtier, the enameller, the lapidary, the setter, the engraver and the polisher. Even with the help of modern technology, it still takes two years to complete a clock such as the present one.
Cartier
The House of Cartier was founded in 1847 when the 28-year-old Louis-François Cartier took over a shop at 29 rue Montorgueil in Paris. His son Alfred took control of the company in 1874, by which time it already had an excellent reputation. However, it was Alfred’s three sons - Louis, Pierre and Jacques — who would go on to establish Cartier as a world-famous jewellery brand.
While Louis retained the responsibility for Paris, in 1902 Jacques went to London and only two years later received the Royal Warrant, thereby supplying jewellery to King Edward VII and his court. Pierre travelled to New York where, in 1917, he famously acquired 653 Fifth Avenue for two strands of the very finest pearls. This piece of prime real estate remains a flagship store to this day.
Since then the Maison has expanded globally, becoming what many consider to be the finest jewellery house in the world. Its clientele has encompassed royalty, film stars and business tycoons. King Farouk of Egypt, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and Clark Gable all made their way to Cartier to buy or have their jewellery made.