One of the most interesting watches unveiled since the beginning of the year is Cartier’s addition to the Métiers d'Art collection – a Crocodile Watch.
This unusual and masterly crafted creation is the famous flying tourbillon, Rotonde de Cartier, which now features a breathtaking cameo crocodile motif, crafted in natural agate. The cameo technique is a special method of carving which results in a raised relief image. Most commonly, the relief image is of a contrasting color to the backdrop. The cameos are typically semi-precious gemstones, and most commonly of onyx and agate. The carved relief can be set onto a contrasting background or it can emerge from a solid block of material where the relief is carved directly out of a material with different layers, where each layer has a different hue.
Most of the modern cameo reliefs are carved into layered agates, and these layers are often dyed to create bold contrasts. What we see on this Cartier dial are the subtle gradations of blue in natural agate. The gem-cutter has carved a crocodile from a single block of semi-precious stone, suggesting the powerful animal emerging from the waves. The richly colored stone flashes in different hues, ranging from midnight black to shimmering white. All of these nuances of color are naturally colored layers of a genuine stone. It certainly takes a lot of skill to bring out the image of a crocodile without damaging the stone. For this reason, the piece is available in a strictly limited edition of 30 unique pieces, each priced at $161,000. As it seems, the watch will be available in two basic variants - with diamond-set bezel and with plain bezel.
Cartier Rotonde de Cartier with Crocodile Motif is crafted in white gold and it features a beaded crown set with a sapphire cabochon. The watch utilizes an in-house mechanical movement with manual winding, the calibre 9452 MC. As you can see on the images, this is a flying tourbillon with seconds indicated by the tourbillon carriage in the form of a C. The gorgeously decorated movement is sealed with the Hallmark of Geneve, and it is shown through the sapphire case-back.
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