Made from the 1940's until the 1950's, the Cartier Gouvernail has long been an iconic model made by the firm. The huge majority were made in yellow gold, the versions in platinum featuring baguette diamond indexes are extremely rare, in fact as of today only four examples are known. This example is the fifth known and has never been offered on the market. Preserved in very good overall condition still featuring the platinum punchmark on the back of the case and with its European Watch & Clock movement, it is only 2 case numbers away from the previous one offered at Antiquorum (Geneva, October 14, 2007, lot 501), a testament to the small production of such an exceptional timepiece.