Cartier. An extremely fine and rare platinum and sapphire-set openface keyless lever dress watch, minute repeating activated through the bezel

SIGNED CARTIER, MONTRE DE POCHE EMPIRE RÉPÉTITION MARINE MODEL, CASE SIGNED EUROPEAN WATCH AND CLOCK CO. INC., FRANCE, CASE HAND-STAMPED WITH CARTIER REFERENCE NUMBERS 5997, 6719 AND 18'000, MOVEMENT SIGNED EUROPEAN WATCH AND CLOCK CO., INC., MANUFACTURED IN 1926

Details

Cartier. An extremely fine and rare platinum and sapphire-set openface keyless lever dress watch, minute repeating activated through the bezel
Signed Cartier, Montre de Poche Empire Répétition Marine model, case signed European Watch and Clock Co. Inc., France, case hand-stamped with Cartier reference numbers 5997, 6719 and 18'000, movement signed European Watch and Clock Co., Inc., manufactured in 1926
Nickel-finished lever movement, 29 jewels, bimetallic compensation balance, minute repeating on two hammers onto two gongs, activated by turning the bezel clockwise, silvered matte dial, Roman numerals, blued steel moon-style hands, circular slim case, sapphire-set band and bow, snap on back, case numbered and stamped EWC, dial signed Cartier, movement signed EWC
49 mm. diam.

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Lot Essay

The present watch is thought to be one of only three examples of such a Cartier dress watch with minute repeating activated by turning the bezel known to have appeared in public to date.

This highly unusual system was developed at the beginning of the 20th century with the aim of protecting the movement from humidity and dust intrusion as occurring in the common system with the slide in the band, requiring an opening in the case.

The production of this fragile mechanism however proved extremely difficult and costly and consequently, only a very small quantity of such watches was ever made and even fewer have survived to date.

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