Wristwatch, Cartier Grande Octagonal, London, 1970

Model: Grande Octagonal London Case Material: 18K yellow gold Bracelet Material: Leather strap Year: Circa 1970 Movement: Manual, cal. P838, jewelled Case N°: 9'042 Movement N°: 1'862'279 Dimensions: 33mm width x 33mm length Signed: Case, dial and movement A compelling embodiment of Cartier London’s most creative period, the present octagonal wristwatch in yellow gold was produced for the Maison’s boutique at 175 New Bond Street under the visionary direction of Jean-Jacques Cartier.

The case was manufactured by the renowned Clerkenwell workshop Wright & Davies, responsible for many of Cartier London’s most iconic forms, including the Pebble, Crash, Oval, Ronde and Dacagonal, as well as the present octagonal model. The cases were delivered to Cartier London, where they were assembled and refined to the highest standards. Final assembly and regulation were entrusted to Eric Denton, master watchmaker and a key figure within Cartier London during this golden era. Working closely with Jean-Jacques Cartier, Denton helped bring the Maison’s most imaginative designs to life, ensuring their mechanical integrity matched their avant-garde aesthetics. The octagonal form occupies a natural place within Cartier’s broader exploration of geometry.

Although the Maison had experimented with octagonal cases since the early 20th century, the London period reinterpreted the form with renewed boldness. The present watch reflects this lineage through its clean, architectural lines and harmonious balance of symmetry and originality. Of further significance, the interior of the case bears the classic hallmarks associated with Cartier London production, including the English assay mark with the letter “p”, indicating manufacture circa 1970. Case number 9042 is repeated on the clasp, an important detail confirming the coherence, originality and period correctness of the watch.