CARTIER, ASYMETRIQUE, A UNIQUE PLATINUM SKELETONISED WRISTWATCH, 1/1

CASE NUMBER: A 114478

Details

CIRCA: 1997
CASE MATERIAL: Platinum, sapphire-set cabochon crown
STRAP MATERIAL: Blue CROCODILE leather strap
WIDTH: 23.5 mm.
DIAL: Skeletonised with numerals at 12 and 6 o’ clock positions
MOVEMENT: Cal. 9P, manual-winding, hand-engraved
FUNCTIONS: Time only
BUCKLE: Cartier 18k white gold folding buckle
WITH: Cartier presentation box and product literature
Ψ The present lot has an endangered species strap which will not be shipped outside of the UAE, it will be fitted with a regular leather strap instead. However, the strap can be collected from the sale office in Dubai. Please contact a specialist for more information.


Lot Essay

The present timepiece is a pièce unique (caseback engraved 1/1) and features an attractive dial that features two decorative techniques that are mastered by few in the realm of watchmaking. The two techniques includes skeletonisation – the process of removing all excess metal from the bridges and plates of a mechanical movement – and engraving whatever is left of the metal.
The elegant “Tank Asymètrique” model was launched in 1996 in a limited edition of 300 examples in yellow gold and 100 in platinum. It is a re-adaptation of Cartier’s 1936 “Parallelogram” model. The tilted case shape, combined with pronounced Arabic numerals, was chosen to facilitate the reading of time while driving.