Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...
Noga Hilton, Geneva, Jun 14, 2003
LOT 300
Cartier Paris, 'Réversible', No. 28461/15317. Entered in the register July 31, 1933. Very fine, rare and thin, "cabriolet" rectangular, 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch.
CHF 30,000 - 40,000
EUR 20,000 - 27,000 / USD 23,000 - 31,000
C. three-body, solid, polished and brushed with 'cabriolet' system, winding-crown on the XII. D. matte silver with painted radial Roman numerals. 'Spade' blued steel hands. M. Cal. 5 1/2''', rhodium-plated, 'fausses côtes' decoration, 19 jewels, lateral lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, flat balance spring.Dial signed, numbered on the case.Dim. 19 x 38 mm.Engraved inside the outer case:"L.S. Brigham".
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3 - 14 |
|
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3 - 5 - 01 |
Notes
Cabriolet in 1932. In 1932, Cartier launched a watch, initially known as Cabriolet Reversible, later referred to as Tank Reversible. It was reserved for Cartier and patented by Spécialités Horlogères S.A., the distribution company for watches manufactured by LeCoultre, based in Lausanne, founded by César de Trey. The Cartier-Jaeger invention was definitely an ingenious system, permitting a complete 360 degree rotation of the watch case around the horizontal axis and its insertion inside a second case, so as to r veal or conceal the dial. It led to Cartier's Tank Basculante meaning 'tipping' or 'swinging', in 1936, made on the principle of a number of successive planes inserted one within the other, in which the lateral bars of the case, integrating the strap, were considerably slimmed down. From 1932 to about 1942, a small number of versions with slight variations were produced by Cartier, called Cabriolet, Reversible or Basculante, as well as the very elongated 1942 model. Very few pieces of this typ of watches were made by Cartier during the 1950's and 1960's, see The Magical Art of Cartier theme auction, Antiquorum, Geneva, ovember 19, 1996, lots 340 to 345. A similar watch is published in 'Cartier, The Tank Watch' by Franco Cologni, Edition 1998, pp. 98-99 and 214-216.