— AUCTIONS —
FINE JEWELS & TIMEPIECES Choose your Cartier It’s a hard ask having to choose a Cartier wristwatch; rarely is one luxury maison responsible for so many classic designs. The brand’s relentless creativity can be summed up by Louis Cartier’s favourite saying: “Never copy, only create.” The wristwatches on the short list here perfectly embody the Cartier ethos and are the ones to know about.
PANTHÈRE In an elegant merger of watch meets jewel, the Panthère remains one of the most distinctive Cartier watch designs. The jungle cat has long been associated with the brand, with origins tracing back as far as 1914. Since its release in 1983, the Panthère bracelet watch has gone on to be a best-seller in women’s watches. The sleek, supple design and clean lines
TANK To some people, all Cartier watches seem to be variations on the Tank, such is the measure of a model that is possibly the most recognisable and celebrated dress watch of all time. Andy Warhol said of the Cartier Tank: “I don’t wear a Tank
Timepieces Auction Mon 27 Jun, 6pm MELBOURNE
watch to tell the time. Actually, I never even wind it. I wear a Tank because it is the watch to wear!”
of construction find inspiration in its namesake. Presented
The Tank supposedly derived its name and design inspiration
as the ultimate dress watch, it was created with the stylistic
from the first tanks that appeared on the WWI battlefields.
intuition of the “jeweller of kings” to capture and reflect light
Since then, Cartier has released an array of variations -
on its multifaceted bracelet with every movement of the
Francaise, Americaine, Anglaise, Solo - but all share the same
wrist, in much the same way a precious gemstone does.
case design, where the case sides extend to the lugs, just like the tracks of a tank. It is somewhat poetic that a piece of combative military equipment would form the inspiration for a watch that is one of the all-time classic designs in watchmaking, and remains an emblem for an enviable list of movers and shakers to this day.
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Next Fine Jewels &
TOP LEFT: Cartier Advertising Poster
1993 / Alamy A Ladies Gold Cartier Panthere Wristwatch Sold for $4,960 TOP RIGHT: Cartier Advertising Poster
1983 / Alamy Cartier Tank Ref 2715 a Stainless Steel Wristwatch Circa 2015 $1,500 – 2,000
