Temps Moderne de Cartier

Symmetry and abstraction in a jewellery equation

The balance of broken lines, a play on perspectives and parallelism: the whole scope of Cartier’s geometric vocabulary is masterfully interpreted by their high jewellery watches.

Aesthetics that combine breaking away with continuity and maximal with minimal for their arm adornments, supple and flexible bracelets whose asymmetry and abstract designs create both intensity and contrast, lightness and strength.

Diamond shapes, rectangles, squares and circles – Cartier contrasts the bold lines of certain watches with the smoothness of rows of calibrated diamonds and sapphire beads, variations of openwork cut through with spectacular stones.

Watches, some of which conceal themselves, secretly hidden behind an array of diamonds, an engraved gateway of structured designs or a miniature square. 

Time appears or disappears, a game of illusion, of masked hours which adds to the magic of these pieces, unique for the most part,reflection of modernised crafts at the service of inspired high jewellery. 

Temps Moderne de Cartier watch

The Temps Moderne de Cartier watch is a bold, generous timepiece. The fun design with moving parts is a toy begging to be played with, a watchmaking recreation, impossibly elegant.

Against a backdrop of Tahitian mother-of-pearl decorated with swirling motifs, cogs and gears trigger a whirling dance of three rings set with brilliant-cut diamonds. This illusory mechanism is built around a miniature dial. The watch within a watch whirls into the dance...

The back of the watch becomes the stage for a modern ballet. The sparkle of gemstones bounces from one cog to the next, from pinion to crown. The Tahitian mother-of-pearl plays with the effects of depth and contrast as its rich shades of pink, blue, green and gold take on an iridescent sheen.

Boasting 508 brilliant-cut diamonds, this totally original piece features a case in rhodium-plated white gold. In a jewellery-inspired flight of fancy, the sparkle of the stones provides a dazzling setting for this playful timepiece.