Montre Tourbillon et Crocodile

SIHH 2011  

A symbol of unrivalled creativity, Cartier’s fine watchmaking defies the future through its persistent desire to combine masterful expertise with technical experimentation, knowledge with distinctiveness and a love of watchmaking with a passion for superb finishes and details.

The 21st edition of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie reiterates this challenge and seals its success, thanks to the modernity of a Calibre de Cartier Astrotourbillon watch in titanium, the artistic and animal exuberance of a Geneva Seal Complication watch for women and the presentation of an exceptionally delectable piece of jewellery. 

Tourbillon and crocodile Geneva Seal watch, calibre 9458 MC
 
A very feminine Grande Complication watch

Cartier has brought a wonderful dreamlike quality to this artistically beautiful flying
tourbillon. The watchmaker has inversed the movement to show the mechanism and its
skeletonised bridges, which now form part of the decor.
 
Once upon a time, there was a fabulous tourbillon…

At the heart of this exceptional watch, a diamond crocodile carefully guards the time. Sculpted in white gold with emerald eyes, the reptile is graciously surrounded by a bed of water lilies in translucent red and white enamel. 
 
The heartbeats of this enchanting jewellery piece are driven by the oscillations of a unique flying tourbillon: the calibre 9458 MC, adorned with the Geneva Seal.
 
This Manufacture mechanical movement with manual winding contains 167 parts, including 19 jewels. With a thickness of 5.58 mm and a diameter of 17 ½ lines, it runs at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations/hour and has a power reserve of 50 hours. It is regulated by a flying tourbillon featuring a C-shaped carriage that also serves to indicate the seconds. Instead of being positioned in the traditional way, protected between the bridges and plate of the movement, this flying tourbillon has been developed as a stunning design feature. The carriage appears to “fly” over the bridges, as if suspended weightless above the dial, and is particularly exposed to the shocks that could disturb its balance. The technical risks linked this superb solution thus required the master watchmakers to pay particular attention to the design of the carriage, in order to ensure that the tourbillon’s shock-resistance remained unaffected.
 
It is this feature that gives this round watch its timekeeping rhythm. Set entirely with diamonds, it required over 50 hours of work to produce.
 
The seamless fusion of two areas of expertise − jewellery and watchmaking − has resulted in the hidden beauty and superb functionality of this Manufacture mechanical movement. It is further enhanced by high-quality finishes, all of which have been meticulously crafted to meet the very demanding standards of the Geneva Seal.