Watches & Wonders Edit: Cartier releases dazzling new timepieces, from the Tank, Pasha and Masse Mystérieuse, to new Coussin and Indomptables de Cartier jewellery novelties
Look carefully, though, and you can see a collection of almost invisible markings, recreating a graphic pattern from the dial of a Cartier Must watch from the 1980s, that were inscribed by Cartier’s craftsmen using an innovative electrochemical engraving technique.
STYLE Edit: Cartier’s sensational high jewellery collection, Sixième Sens
One thing we all know about watch cases: they’re solid and inflexible. Well, with the Coussin de Cartier watch, that’s no longer true. It represents a radical reimagining of the classic cushion shaped watch, featuring gold links that intertwine in a grid pattern, which allows the case to be deformed, squished and moved around, then returned to its original shape. A triangular setting, meanwhile, allows diamonds to be integrated directly into the case. It’s available in a range of different versions: some come in gold and diamonds, others are two-tone, while two others are highly experimental pieces entirely paved with coloured stones or diamonds.
Mystery movements have long been one of the leading wonders of watchmaking, powering timepieces with hands that appear to float above the dial, with no connection to the gears – and Cartier has been integrating them into its watches since 1912.
The Indomptables de Cartier, part of the maison’s Metiers d’Arts collection, are an immediately recognisable line of brooch watches featuring depictions of nature’s most stunning creations; they combine the finest craftsmanship and eye-catchingly naturalistic design with an extremely generous helping of diamonds and other gemstones. Three new examples were unveiled at Watches and Wonders 2022, each showing the head of Cartier’s signature panther on the bracelet alongside that of another creature.
STYLE Edit: Cartier’s hypnotic high jewellery collection
One, featuring a crocodile’s head, comes with a yellow gold case, alongside a dial and bracelet set with brilliant-cut diamonds, brilliant-cut emeralds, pear-shaped emeralds, cabochon rubies, black spinels and black lacquer. Another, depicting a zebra’s head, is in rhodium-finished white gold, with brilliant-cut diamonds, cabochon emeralds, pear-shaped emeralds, black spinels, onyx and black lacquer on the dial and bracelet. And the third, adorned with a tiger’s head, comes in yellow gold, with a dial and bracelet featuring brilliant-cut diamonds, pear-shaped emeralds, yellow sapphires, orange spessartites, black spinels and black lacquer.
They were joined by four new watches in the Panthère de Cartier collection, in rose gold, yellow gold and steel, with dials in golden plum, gold, midnight blue and black. There was also a dramatic new interpretation of the Cartier Libre collection, inspired by a rock crystal and diamond bracelet worn in the 1930s by screen icon Gloria Swanson. And, even more daring, there’s the asymmetrical, Dalíesque dial of the classic Crash de Cartier watch, given a beautiful enamel makeover by the maison’s craftsmen in a choice of blue or green.
- The Cartier Tank was released in new minimalist monochrome shades, while the Coussin de Cartier has diamonds integrated directly on the case
- The Pasha de Cartier Grille features a bold, removable gold lattice across the dial and film icon Gloria Swanson’s diamond bracelet inspired new Cartier Libre creations