Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 11, 2012

LOT 593

CARTIER - ?PENDULETTE PRESSE-PAPIERS À CALENDRIER? DESK CLOCK WITH CALENDAR Cartier, No. 2483, ?Pendulette Presse-Papiers à Calendrier?. Made by European Watch & Clock Co. Inc., circa 1928. Very fine and extremely rare, silver, yellow gold and lapis-lazuli, 8-day going keyless desk clock with manual tripledate calendar.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

USD 7,500 - 9,500 / EUR 6,000 - 7,500

Sold: CHF 15,000

C. Three-body, polished rectangular with canted ends, engraved with initials A.F.L., inclined yellow gold bezel with polished and engine-turned line decoration, the sides set with four hexagonal lapis-lazuli in gold collet settings, gilt-brass back secured by 4 screws, winding, hand-setting and calendar adjustment wheels, hinged strut. D. Matte silver with black radial Roman numerals, engine-turned center, gold lines above and below, three apertures for the date, days of the week and the months. Fine Art Deco gold and royal blue enamel hands. M. 19???, rhodium plated, fausses cotes decoration, 15 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with 3 adjustments, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Dial signed Cartier, case and movement signed European Watch & Clock Co. Inc., case numbered. Dim. 110 x 70 x 30 mm. Property of an Italian collector


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

A superb example of this model of desk clock with calendar, the present clock is in excellent original condition with untouched lightly patinated dial. Signed and numbered by Cartier and fully signed by the European Watch & Clock Co. Inc.. The combination of precious metals, semi-precious stones and gilded brass is classic Cartier, the company prized the style and workmanship of their pieces more than the purely intrinsic value of the component parts. This was particularly true during the Art Deco period where stunning effects were created using all manner of natural materals, precious or semi-precious together in the same object. An almost identical ?Pendulette Presse-Papiers à Calendrier? but made in different materials is illustrated in : ?Le Temps de Cartier?, Barracca, Negretti & Nencini, 1989, p. 177.