TRINITY COLLECTION, CIRCA 1980s

An exceptionally rare creation from Cartier’s 1980s portfolio, this skeletonized pocket watch exemplifies the Maison’s highest level of artisanal craftsmanship, and very little are known about these watches. The case is executed in tri-color gold, with a warm pink-gold outer body accented by a sharply defined white-gold stepped bezel, while the movement completes the trifecta in yellow gold. All three colors harmonize at the wonderful and sculptural form of the bow.

At its heart lies a magnificently skeletonized, hand-engraved yellow-gold movement, its openworked bridges creating a mesmerizing lattice that immediately draws the eye. Every cutout, bevel, and engraved flourish reveals the painstaking care and technical mastery required to produce such a piece—an effort that explains why examples of this type are seldom known and supremely rare. Cartier’s signature design elements remain intact: elegant blued sword hands, a cabochon-set crown, and the tri-color palette seen in many Cartier Trinity collection pieces. Completing the composition, “Cartier” is hand-engraved at the top of the movement.