Cartier: Cloche de Cartier Privé Collection

After the Crash, the Tank Cintrée, the Tonneau and the Tank Asymétrique, the Cloche de Cartier watch is the fifth opus brought to you by Cartier Privé. 

CLOCHE DE CARTIER

The “cloche” shape appeared in Cartier pieces in 1920. “Cloche de Cartier”, because, when placed horizontally, its outline is reminiscent of a service bell rung at a counter. Like many Cartier signature pieces, it has been named after its shape, made notable for the purity of its line and clear inspiration. 

“The Cloche de Cartier watch illustrates the Maison’s approach to shape, and how it is considered for its aesthetic but also by appreciating all of its possible evocations. It highlights the Maison’s talent at playing with simple shapes and revealing their aesthetic potential.” Pierre Rainero, Director of Image, Style and Heritage at Cartier.

A collector’s piece that is unusual and unique in its category, the Cloche de Cartier watch adopts all the Maison’s watchmaking codes. The “rail track” and hour markings are adapted to the dial’s asymmetrical shape and the crown is set with a cabochon. Both respectful of the Maison’s watchmaking tradition, this Cloche creation is unusual in that it may be read whilst worn on the wrist and can additionally be removed and placed on a table to be transformed into a “desk clock”. 

Two new calibres have had to be made at the Cartier Manufacture at La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland to adapt to the aesthetic imperatives imposed by this unique shape. 

“A new functional architecture was therefore designed, to perfectly match that of the watch. Thanks to excellent cooperation, we were able to give priority to aesthetic emotion over technical perception in this new skeleton version.” Marie-Laure Cérède, Director of Design for Watchmaking at Cartier.

CLOCHE DE CARTIER WATCH

Keeping everything from the original, with a singularity that surprises at first glance, making you see things differently as you get closer to it. 

Available in pink gold, yellow gold or platinum and produced in only 100 pieces per model, the Cloche de Cartier displays all of Cartier’s watchmaking codes: rail tracks, sword-shaped hands and a closed-set cabochon on the winding crown. It has stayed faithful to the original model’s finishes: satin-finished on the back, polished between the lugs or edges, it is powered by the 1917 MC Manufacture manual winding movement with 38 hours of power reserve. 

Both unique and surprising, the time can be read by extending the arm, without the need to bring the wrist towards you. Proof that even in the 1920s, Cartier approached watchmaking with comfort and ergonomics in mind. 

CLOCHE DE CARTIER SQUELETTE

This year, Cartier has chosen to apply one of its watchmaking signatures, the skeleton, to this iconic watch. 

Three skeleton models complete this collection. One version in pink gold “LE 50 pieces”, one in platinum “LE 50 pieces” and one in platinum and diamonds limited to only 20 pieces. 

While it showcases the immediacy of an entirely openworked dial, it required the Manufacture 1917 mechanical movement to be completely reworked into a very fine network of gears, visible through the transparent Roman numerals, now transformed into bridges. It is now known as the 9626 Cartier Manufacture movement. In the platinum version, the winding crown is set with a ruby cabochon.