Cartier Montre Autel de Sac purse watch

Technical characteristics

Type

Traveling purse watch

Maker

Cartier

Jewels

15

Material

18K yellow gold and champlevé enamel

Dimensions

41 x 26 x 11 mm

Escapement

Straight-line lever

Serial Number

9308/2196

Place recorded

France

Maker / attribution

Cartier

Design

Visible features

• Case displays blue champlevé enamel in a stylized tulip motif. • Dial features blued steel double spade hands. • The watch utilizes a pivoting base stand for display as a table clock. • Front shutters fold outwards to reveal the primary dial.

Case and Exterior Design

The case of this Montre Autel de Sac is crafted from 18K yellow gold in a rectangular format, finished with polished surfaces. A primary feature of the exterior is the blue champlevé enamel decoration rendered in a stylized tulip pattern, which contributes to the piece's aesthetic. The front of the watch comprises hinged shutters. When the case is closed, the user views an external white enamel chapter ring displaying Arabic numerals. Upon opening these shutters, the internal dial layout is revealed. This transition between two distinct display modes, using a folding mechanism, is described in the documentation as 'à cadran déployant' or 'à volets'.

Provenance and Documentation

The watch is identified by the serial number 9308/2196. The documentation provided by the auction house includes a brief attribution of the item's creation to circa 1928. The object's design, specifically the use of hinged volets, is linked to broader Cartier production, and the provenance is corroborated by its inclusion in a reference publication. A similar iteration of this watch model is referenced in the book 'Le Temps de Cartier' by Jader Barracca, Giampiero Negretti, and Franco Nencini. The record provides standard condition gradings, identifying minor oxidation on the dial and the original state of the hands, supporting the object's authenticity as a period Cartier production.

Movement and Technical Specifications

The timepiece is powered by a 15-jewel, rhodium-plated movement measuring 8 1/2''' in diameter. The movement finish is characterized by 'fausses côtes' decorative striping. The regulation and timekeeping are managed through a straight-line lever escapement paired with a cut bimetallic compensation balance, designed to mitigate the effects of temperature variations on the hairspring. Precision in the regulation of the balance is supported by the inclusion of a Breguet balance spring. The movement powers the blued steel 'double spade' hands, which display the time on the internal silvered engine-turned dial.

Identification

Serial number

9308/2196

Source note

Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.

Catalogue references

No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.