Cartier produced a variety of small luxury items incorporating watches during the 1930s and 1940s. This included not only wristwatches but also unique pieces like desk clocks, purse watches, lighters with concealed watches, money clips, and pens featuring mechanical movements. These creations reflected Cartier’s innovative spirit during a challenging economic period, focusing on functional yet elegant designs. The «Duo-Plan» movement by Jaeger-LeCoultre, developed exclusively for Cartier, exemplifies the high-quality miniature watch mechanisms used in some of these items. Such pieces were rare and highly collectible, showcasing Cartier’s blend of artistry and horological craftsmanship in that era.

The seller purchased this rare Cartier example from Antiquorum’s Geneva auction on May 13th, 1999, lot 195. It has been well cared for nearly 26 years, and the overall condition remains the same as when he purchased it.