Cartier Octagonal Mechanical 8-Day Movement Desk Clock Gilt Metal Black Enamel
About the Item
- Creator:Cartier (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 2.96 in (7.5 cm)Width: 2.96 in (7.5 cm)Depth: 1.38 in (3.5 cm)
- Style:Rococo (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:Enamel,Enameled
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1980's
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Running and hand setting at time of report. Patina and enamel losses throughout, dial is in good condition.
- Seller Location:High Wycombe, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: KF1stDibs: LU8232241398812
Cartier
For its extraordinary range of bracelets, watches, rings and other adornments, French luxury house Cartier is undeniably one of the most well known and internationally revered jewelers in the world among clients both existing and aspirational.
Perhaps 1847 was not the ideal time to open a new watchmaking and jewelry business, as the French Revolution was not kind to the aristocracy who could afford such luxuries. Nevertheless, it was the year Louis-François Cartier (1819–1904) — who was born into poverty — founded his eponymous empire, assuming control of the workshop of watchmaker Adolphe Picard, under whom he had previously been employed as an assistant. Of course, in the beginning, it was a relatively modest affair, but by the late 1850s, Cartier had its first royal client, Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, niece of Napoleon Bonaparte, who commissioned the jeweler to design brooches, earrings and other accessories.
Under the leadership of Louis-François’s son, Alfred, who took over in 1874, business boomed. Royalty around the world wore Cartier pieces, including Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the Maharaja of Patiala and King Edward VII, who had 27 tiaras made by the jewelry house for his coronation in 1902 and issued Cartier a royal warrant in 1904. (Today, the British royal family still dons Cartier pieces; Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, regularly sports a Ballon Bleu de Cartier watch.)
Cartier’s golden years, however, began when Alfred introduced his three sons, Louis, Pierre and Jacques, to the business. The brothers expanded Cartier globally: Louis reigned in Paris, Pierre in New York and Jacques in London, ensuring their brand’s consistency at their branches across the world. The trio also brought in such talents as Charles Jacqueau and Jeanne Toussaint.
One of Cartier’s earliest major successes was the Santos de Cartier watch — one of the world's first modern wristwatches for men. (Previously, a large number of people were using only pocket watches.) Louis designed the timepiece in 1904 for his friend, popular Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to be able to check the time more easily while flying.
Cartier’s other famous timepieces include the Tank watch, which was inspired by the linear form of military tanks during World War I, and the so-called mystery clocks. Invented by watchmaker and magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin and later crafted exclusively for Cartier in the house’s workshop by watchmaker Maurice Couët, the mystery clocks were so named because the integration of glass dials on which the clocks’ hands would seemingly float as well as structures that are hidden away within the base give the illusion that they operate without machinery.
On the jewelry side of the business, Cartier’s internationally renowned offerings include the Tutti Frutti collection, which featured colorful carved gemstones inspired by Jacques’s trip to India and grew in popularity during the Art Deco years; the panthère motif, which has been incorporated into everything from brooches to rings; and the Love bracelet, a minimal, modernist locking bangle inspired by medieval chastity belts that transformed fine jewelry.
While the Cartier family sold the business following the death of Pierre in 1964, the brand continues to innovate today, renewing old hits and creating new masterpieces.
Find contemporary and vintage Cartier watches, engagement rings, necklaces and other accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: High Wycombe, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This Seller
View AllEarly 20th Century British Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Chrome
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Steel, Chrome
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Mantel Clocks
Onyx, Marble, Spelter
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Tobacco Accessories
Metal
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Tobacco Accessories
Metal, Enamel
20th Century British Globes
Chrome
You May Also Like
Vintage 1980s Swiss Mantel Clocks
Brass
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Wall Clocks
Brass
20th Century French Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Enamel, Gold
Vintage 1930s Swiss Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Metal, Enamel
Antique 1890s English Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Metal
Vintage 1980s Italian Other Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
How to Spot a Fake Cartier Love Bracelet
This iconic jewel has captured countless hearts with its elegant design and its amatory symbolism. Counterfeiters have taken note of the demand and created fake versions. If you’re looking for a genuine Cartier Love bracelet, it’s crucial to check all the elements for authenticity. Our guide will teach you the telltale traits of a knockoff.
The 14 Most Iconic Watches for Women
Style, craft and heritage combine to make these designs undeniable classics.