The Maison’s emblematic animals – charismatic, untamed - have made their presence felt in Cartier watchmaking since the panther’s coat first graced a watch case in 1914.
"A MESMERISING ENCOUNTER"
This year it is a mesmerising fantasy, an imaginary encounter between zebra and crocodile that lends its coat to a fully-paved watch that is both graphic and organic, each stripe defined in lacquer by hand.
This voluptuous oval shape curls, as if poised to strike, around a lozenge-shaped dial that demonstrates the Maison’s savoir-faire through the delicately carved decoration that surrounds each coloured-stone.
THE CROCODILE REFLECTS
Fully embodied in a sculptural creation, the crocodile observes the passing of time. The realism is arresting: are these precious materials coming to life, or is it an animal transfigured? This feat of savoir-faire recreates the volume and tension of each slick curve, each spiked scale, and the flicker of life in a bright emerald eye. It owes the depth of its profile to the rich chromatics of the graded enamel that adorns its case and dial, harmonised with the colour gradients of the sapphires and diamonds.
This artistic craft is one of the specialties of Cartier’s artisans at the Maison des Métiers d’Art in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
A WILD STATEMENT
For a duo of sculptural novelties, the time for observation has passed. Here, the determined front profile of a crocodile and tiger meet the eye directly. Each one clamps their jaws powerfully to the shining sunray dial, as if searching for their own reflection beyond time.
Their bracelets ripple with remarkable flexibility, encircling the wrist in a series of contrasting coloured stones that bring to life each animal’s coat, creating a visual rhythm - and making a ferocious statement all of their own.
“These new designs enrich the Cartier bestiary in watchmaking, whether figurative or abstract, real or imaginary, they translate a natural beauty. From one creation to the other, this animalistic theme has been in constant evolution over the decades to reveal all its aesthetic richness, as well as its evocative power and symbolic strength.”
Pierre Rainero, Cartier Director of Heritage, Image and Style.
“In the new Animal Jewellery watches, we pay tribute to the Maison’s treasure trove of living heritage by electrifying our stylistic vocabulary: from the delicate fusion of different animal coats and working them in precise volume, to the very naturalist depiction of the crocodile. There’s also a sense humour in these watches. You do not know whether it is zebra or a tiger. The crocodile pops its head out of the water to contemplate and watch the time pass by.”
Marie-Laure Cérède, Cartier Director of Watchmaking and Jewellery Design
