Dial signed Cartier, case numbered, movement and case signed European Watch and Clock Co. DIM. 20 x 16 x 10 cm. Cartier, Art Deco Masterpieces The timepieces made by Cartier in the 20th century are some of the most exquisite practical objects ever created. The same standards of craftsmanship that were used in Cartier's legendary jewellery were applied to the making of their clocks - design and quality naturally being of paramount importance. Cartier were and remain avant-garde in the use of a combination of precious, semi-precious, antique and even everyday materials which together has evolved into an unmistakable and uncompromising house style. Cartier made their first clocks around 1904 at a time when the company's main competitor in the market for object de luxe was the house of Fabergé. Consequently the objects made by Cartier in the so-called Belle Epoque up to about 1910 appealed equally to their Royal, aristocratic and distinguished clientèle. The decorative material that enjoyed huge popularity in the first quarter of the 20th century was enamel which could be used to decorate clock cases in an infinite variety of ways and was fused at very high temperature to the surface of either silver or gold to stunning effect - translucent or opalescent enamel over an engine-turned ground or opaque colors for a bolder design. The process was fraught with danger and a piece could be destroyed in the firing quite easily, as such the enameler had to have great skill and a finished piece could take many weeks or months to come to fruition. A feature of many of Cartier's pendulettes or small desk clocks was the use of a repeating mechanism, usually minute-repeating so that at the press of a button the owner could know the time audibly, particularly useful at night time. A variety of Swiss and French maker's were commissioned to provide movements for Cartier's clocks including Nocturne and the Geneva Watch Co. However in the early 1920s Cartier formed a joint company with Edward Jaeger (of Jaeger-LeCoultre) to make movements specifically for Cartier and thus the European Watch & Clock Company Inc. was born and became most associated with the clocks of Cartier. Today collectors particularly prize a Cartier clock with the familiar signature on the movement 'European Watch & Clock Co. Inc.'. The style of the Art-Deco period provided Cartier with inspiration for some of their most stunning clocks, bold blocks of color or almost complete transparency suited the Cartier ethos perfectly whilst at the same time the designs were absolutely modern which appealed not only to their existing clients but to the new tycoons, tastemakers and Hollywood 'Royalty'. Today Cartier clocks of all periods have lost none of their original allure and their desirability is ever-increasing. This clock is a great example of the Art Deco style. The case which is entirely covered in mirrored glass and set with transparent glass mounts was designed to fit perfectly within the predominently black and white interiors created for the wealthy tastemakers of the time. One of the distinctive parts of Cartier's philosophy was to produce objects of great luxury with the emphasis on style and quality regardless whether the materials used were precious or not.