Cartier, which offered many successful models to watch enthusiasts along with the significant investments for its luxury watchmaking division in the past decade, also revealed its status in luxury watchmaking with the Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Astromystérieux model.
2016 was an important year for Cartier. The brand introduced a new product line, Drive de Cartier, after a long break and became one of the most talked-about brands at the SIHH trade show of the same year eventually. Although the model family that made its mark on the year was Drive de Cartier, the Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Astromystérieux model, which is in the famous Haute Horlogerie segment, was also highly appreciated. Let's take a closer look at this unique model, which tributes to the brand's glorious past.
Cartier's relation with Mystery watches dates back to the early 20th century when Louis Cartier met an extraordinary watchmaker named Maurice Couet, specializing in mystery watches. The talented watchmaker started the production of those watches together with Cartier. The first watch, inspired by the breathtaking work of the famous illusionist Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, was produced in 1912 under the name Model A.
Cartier revisited the mysterious watch concept in 2014. The R&D team led by Carole Forestier found a way to miniaturize the movement to fit a wristwatch. The Rotonde de Cartier Mysterious Hours, together with the Rotonde de Cartier Mysterious Double Tourbillon, brought this exceptional concept back to life in the modern age.
The Rotonde de Cartier Astromystérieux, the guest of our review corner, is simply a magnificent watch. It is also an excellent example of the point the brand has reached in the field of high watchmaking.
Usually, when it comes to Mystery-style watches, the dial is the first thing that comes to mind because the trick associated with the mystery is there. However, for the Rotonde de Cartier Astromystérieux, things are a little bit different as not only the dial but the movement itself has a mysterious nature as well.
All Mystery dial watches have transparent discs to which the hands are attached. The movement, prepared with separate discs for seconds, hours, and minutes, is designed as if the hand-like symbols placed on the discs have no connection with the center, creating the impression that the indicators are rotating in the air.
When we look at the Rotonde de Cartier Astromystérieux model, we see that, along the crystals representing the hands, the escapement, balance wheel, gears, and even the barrel are also rotating. This fascinating movement, the Caliber 9462 MC, uses a new concept in which the escapement, balance wheel, gear wheel, and barrel are held together by a series of plates and bridges. Due to its technical architecture, we can call the movement “a Flying Tourbillon”, although not in the traditional sense.
This gripping concept comes in a 43.5mm diameter case made of 18K gold. The case, designed with thick lugs featuring flat head screws, is accompanied by a gold featuring a winding crown decorated with a black stone. The dial part consists of gold Roman numeral indexes and a minute circle engraved on a black scale. The model comes on a hand-stitched black alligator strap and a folding clasp made of 18K gold.
