Pre-Owned Cartier Prive Cloche de Cartier 40950166/AS07794

WHY WE LOVE IT

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No, it’s not a Tank. And yes, it deserves your attention!

While Parisian jeweler to the stars Cartier may be best known in horological circles for its famed Tank Louis watch, there are numerous other models in their archives that are both beautiful and compelling. In recent years, Cartier has been pouring through their history and re-imagining selections for contemporary release as part of their highly regarded Privé Collection.

The original Cloche de Cartier debuted in the 1920s as a bell-shaped jewelry piece in the form of a brooch intended for ladies. Immediately identifiable as something different in a lineup that consists mainly of rectangular watches, the Cloche works brilliantly as a wristwatch and as an art object - a perfect blend of form and function in a way only Cartier could achieve.

The particular example we have here is from Cartier's 2021 collection. Housed in a 37mm platinum case with a ruby-set winding crown and a sapphire crystal, it features a satin silver dial with printed black Roman indices, an outer ‘railroad’ minute track, and blued-steel ‘sword’ handset. Powered by the manually wound Caliber 1917, it comes paired to a black alligator leather strap with a matching platinum ardillon pin buckle.

Produced in a numbered edition of just 100 pieces, this Cloche is amongst the most elegantly executed Cartier Privé models to date. This is a very, very special piece indeed — a future classic for certain.

OVERALL CONDITION

The case is in outstanding, as-new condition showing virtually no wear. Factory sticker is in place on caseback. Satin silver dial with printed 'Roman' indices is in as-new condition with matching blued-steel 'sword' handset. Ruby cabochon crown. Caseback numbered 075/100.