100 Years of Wristwatches

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 19, 2000

LOT 144

Cartier Paris, 'Cabriolet Réversible', No. 32363, entered in the Register on October 18, 1942.Very fine and rare cabriolet rectangular 18K yellow gold gentleman's wristwatch. Accompanied by an 18Kpink gold Cartier deployant clasp.

CHF 40,000 - 45,000

USD 25,000 - 28,000

Sold: CHF 43,700

C. three-body, solid, polished and brushed with 'cabriolet' system, winding-crown on the XII. D. matte silver withpainted radial Roman numerals. 'Spade' blued steel hands. M. Cal. 5 1/2''', signed European Watch & Clock Co.,rhodium plated, 'fausses côtes' decoration, 19 jewels, lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance adjusted totemperatures and 2 positions, flat balance spring.Dial and movement signed, numbered on the case.Dim. 22 x 44 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 4*

Fair

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 5 - 01

Notes

CabrioletIn 1932, Cartier launched a watch, initially known as Cabriolet Reversible, later referred to as Tank Reversible. It wasreserved for Cartier and patented by Spécialités Horlogères S.A., (the distribution company for watches manufacturedby LeCoultre, based in Lausanne, founded by César de Trey). The Cartier-Jaeger invention was definitely an ingenioussystem, permitting a complete 360 degree rotation of the watch case around the horizontal axis and its insertion insidea second case, so as to reveal 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 barsof 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 type of watches were made by Cartier during the 1950's and 1960's, see The Magical Art of Cartiertheme auction, Antiquorum, Geneva, November 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.