Cartier Expands Fine Watchmaking Collection With Refined New Additions

Ever since its introduction in 2008, the Fine Watchmaking Collection has been Cartier‘s calling card when it comes to complicated pieces. Many of them unique and never done before. For the SIHH 2017 Cartier is expanding the collection with new models, as well as some varieties of existing models. It is not a surprise that many of them are focussed on the brand’s unique, mysterious movement, that has become one of the pillars of the Fine Watchmaking Collection.

The Rotonde de Cartier Mysterious Hour watch now joins the Fine Watchmaking Collection as a skeleton. Fitted in a Palladium case it now reveals part of the mystery behind that watch, being the movement that is normally hidden behind the dial on the right side of the watch. They do this in true Cartier style, with skeleton bridges designed as Roman numerals. Although behind it, you can see part of the movement, how the hour and minute hand move remains a secret and rightfully so!

Most impressive is the Rotonde de Cartier Minute Repeater Mysterious Double Tourbillon. This watch is transparent in multiple ways. Not only does the one-minute flying tourbillon seems to be suspended in space, but also all the other movement parts are visible. Among them are the parts needed for the minute repeater. For this watch, Cartier uses a titanium case. This is a surprising material for such a classic and high-end watch as this. Cartier spend a significant amount of time and effort in perfecting the sound of the minute repeater, making it loud and rich. Titanium proved to be the perfect material to make the case out of and help accomplish this.

The Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire is a watch that has already been part of the Fine Watchmaking Collection for quite some time. It was available in different versions, among them this stunning version featuring a blue enamel guilloche dial. For this year Cartier gave the unique circular perpetual calendar a rich, classic look. The dial features a deeply rigged guilloche, while the Rotonde case is now made from rose gold. The result is a masterpiece, almost baroque in style, yet undeniably Cartier.

More in-depth reviews on these watches, including more photo’s, soon on Haute Time