Important Watches Wristwatches, and C...

The Furama Hotel Hong Kong, Victoriana Room, Jun 05, 2000

LOT 387

Cartier, Paris, circa 1925.Pendule Mystérieuse, Modèle A.Very fine and rare 18K gold, rock crystal and onyx, diamond-set, eight-day going Mystery clock in original fitted leather travelling box and accompanied by the original key.

HKD 1,600,000 - 1,920,000

USD 200,000 - 240,000

Sold: HKD 2,385,000

C. Rectangular rock crystal case with moulded tapered pediment, yellow gold mounted on a rectangular onyx base. D. Mother-of-pearl chapter ring and frame with applied gold Roman numerals and further decoration, inner diamond-set border. Rose-cut diamond set hands. M. Rectangular brass frosted and gilt with going barrel, gilt platform with straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring.Signed on the base.Dim. 139 x 91 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: * 2
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

This is a good, early example of the first type of Mystery clock produced by Cartier from 1913 and which established the Maison?s reputation in this field. The Modèle A was the most sought after among the Mystery Clocks. It was produced on an average of one a year, except during the two World Wars, meaning that to date about eighty have been created.An almost identical clock is illustrated in Le Temps de Cartier, by Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti and Franco Nencini, p. 99.