Raising the bar with its big reveals at this year’s Watches & Wonders, Cartier high jewellery timepieces showcase pioneering designs combined with next-level craftsmanship
It’s that time of year again, where Watches & Wonders (Fashion Week for the watch industry), has unveiled the most important releases of the year, and it’s got watch aficionados in a spin. Taking pride of place once more, Cartier took the opportunity to launch its new collection of exceptional haute joaillerie timepieces, blurring the lines between watchmaking and fine jewellery.
First up is the Cartier Reptilis, an elegant evening timepiece complete with delicate, scale-like diamond-paved chevrons edged with princess-cut diamonds that snake around the wrist. Designed to catch the light beautifully from all angles, it makes for an impeccable investment and is complemented perfectly by the House’s Rosary watch. Here, a black dot is placed on each circle of diamonds around the bracelet and at the hour marker at 12 o’clock, making a graphic statement that evokes an art deco influence. What’s more, 1,191 brilliant-cut diamonds make this beauty as much jewellery as timepiece.
A much-loved emblem of Cartier, the panther has been carefully guarding the French House since 1914 when it first appeared on a wristwatch in the form of a spotted coat of diamonds and onyx. Returning once more in three distinct iterations of the Panthère Songeuse timepiece, the feline is brought to life in three-dimensional form, with two dials boasting hand-paved diamonds.
On the version with a diamond bracelet, the panther’s spots are crafted from sapphires, while another version featuring an alligator strap has them in black lacquer. Last but certainly not least, the third version of the Panthère Songeuse blends both black lacquer and sapphire spots with champlevé enamel – a special contribution from Cartier’s Maison des Métiers d’Art creating the vibrant diagonal stripes that are designed to be noticed. Given the fact that it takes four full days to execute the technique, only 30 pieces of the design are in circulation.
Featured Image: Instagram/cartier
