Cartier will be introducing 2 new timepieces at the 2018 edition of the Salon Internationale de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH): the Rotonde de Cartier Skeleton Mysterious Double Tourbillon, Calibre 9465MC, and the Rotonde de Cartier Mysterious Day & Night Watch, Calibre 9982MC. 

For SIHH 2018, the Maison‘s focus is on the “Mysterious” movement, designed in collaboration between founder Louis Cartier and watchmaker Maurice Coüet in 1912, who was the first to create his first mystery clock, Model A, inspired by the clocks of renowned illusionist, Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin.

I’ve always been a fan of skeleton watches (and still am!) so I was beyond thrilled to see the Rotonde de Cartier Skeleton Mysterious Double Tourbillon, designed in a manner that makes the double tourbillon movement created at the La Chaux-de-Fonds Manufacture in 2013, appear as if it’s “floating” in mid-air as a standalone, without being actually connected to the rest of the watch’s movement. For this 2018 model, the Maison has added skeletonised bridges in the shape of Roman numerals to the platinum-cased 45mm timepiece. Yep, you read that right, “platinum”. Talk about luxe eh? And, like most pieces created for SIHH, this is a numbered limited edition, with just 30 pieces available worldwide.  But, if you prefer something even more flashy, this beauty is also available in platinum with a baguette-cut diamond pavéd bezel.

The Rotonde de Cartier Mysterious Day & Night Watch comes with both the mysterious movement, and the Day/Night indicator – and this is the first time that Cartier has married both these complications. The 18k pink gold sun is driven from left to right by the mysterious movement, before handing over to the moon. Both the sun and moon indicate the hours while the retrograde minutes are displayed in the bottom half of the dial. If you’re confused, just think of it this way: the top half of the watch indicates the hours, while the bottom half, gives you the reading for the minutes. Not a fan of pink gold? well, it’s also available in 18 karat white gold.

Images courtesy of Cartier