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Lot Essay
The present watch stands out due to its important horological as well as historical relevance. An extremely rare war time single-button chronograph, Cartier treasures such as this rarely come to market, especially those that are also valued for their Americana interest.
Collectors consider the single-button chronograph one of the most complex and sophisticated mechanisms available. Unlike the more common chronograph in which the functions are typically operated through two crowns in the band, the single-button chronograph is fully operated through the crown. In the collecting community, a single-button chronograph from the 1940s is a special discovery as they were made in small numbers and very few have survived the last 70+ years.
Most interesting is that the majority of the Cartier watches from this period house movements made by the European Watch Company but during times of war alternative suppliers needed to be leveraged. In this case, the movement is made by C.H. Meylan Watch Company. Quite remarkably, the standard Cartier numbered stamp is still visible to the back of the top left lug as is the gold hallmark to the side of the top right lug.
William Clay Ford Sr. (1925-2014)
William Clay Ford was the youngest child of Edsel Ford and the last surviving grandson of Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company- one of the largest American automotive companies in existence. Born in Detroit, near the headquarters of the motor company, William was welcomed into a life of wealth and success. One year after his grandfather, Henry Ford’s, passing in 1948 he was appointed to Ford Motor Company’s Board of Directors. Afforded with this large responsibility, William had proved himself to be worthy of such responsibility after his graduation from the Hotchkiss School in 1943 and also after receiving a Bachelor Science in Economics from Yale University soon after. Upon his graduation from Hotchkiss, William was given the present watch by his father, Edsel. The case back is engraved with the school logo inlaid with blue enamel and surrounding text; William Clay Ford, May 22, 1943. William Ford Sr. went on to own the Detroit Lions National Football League franchise.
Collectors consider the single-button chronograph one of the most complex and sophisticated mechanisms available. Unlike the more common chronograph in which the functions are typically operated through two crowns in the band, the single-button chronograph is fully operated through the crown. In the collecting community, a single-button chronograph from the 1940s is a special discovery as they were made in small numbers and very few have survived the last 70+ years.
Most interesting is that the majority of the Cartier watches from this period house movements made by the European Watch Company but during times of war alternative suppliers needed to be leveraged. In this case, the movement is made by C.H. Meylan Watch Company. Quite remarkably, the standard Cartier numbered stamp is still visible to the back of the top left lug as is the gold hallmark to the side of the top right lug.
William Clay Ford Sr. (1925-2014)
William Clay Ford was the youngest child of Edsel Ford and the last surviving grandson of Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company- one of the largest American automotive companies in existence. Born in Detroit, near the headquarters of the motor company, William was welcomed into a life of wealth and success. One year after his grandfather, Henry Ford’s, passing in 1948 he was appointed to Ford Motor Company’s Board of Directors. Afforded with this large responsibility, William had proved himself to be worthy of such responsibility after his graduation from the Hotchkiss School in 1943 and also after receiving a Bachelor Science in Economics from Yale University soon after. Upon his graduation from Hotchkiss, William was given the present watch by his father, Edsel. The case back is engraved with the school logo inlaid with blue enamel and surrounding text; William Clay Ford, May 22, 1943. William Ford Sr. went on to own the Detroit Lions National Football League franchise.