The Rotonde de Cartier Earth and Moon watch is the fruit of a technical and creative ambition that for Cartier consists of bringing together two complications in a daring display. A tourbillon has been incorporated into a moon phase complication, each depending on the other. It’s the newest triple complication watch, made its global debut at Feb at the Salon Internationale de Haute Horlogerie.
An innovative blend of complications
The moon-phase mechanism of the Rotonde de Cartier Earth and Moon watch is founded on a creative and complex design that combines a tourbillon, moon phase on demand and a second time zone.
The watch’s vibrant lapis lazuli dial is overlaid with roman numerals in chamfered white gold, lending a three-dimensional appearance that has become a hallmark of Cartier’s fine watches. The first of the watch’s three complications, a 24-hour disk that can track a second time zone, is found at the top of the dial and can be set via a pusher positioned at 2 o’clock on the titanium case. Located just below the disk is the watch’s second complication, a tourbillon visible through an aperture in the dial. The third complication (and the watch’s namesake), a moon-phase indicator, is unapparent until the wearer engages the pusher at 4 o’clock. A small disk then swings down and partially obscures the tourbillon. The section of the mechanism that remains visible indicates the portion of the moon that can currently be seen in the sky. A sapphire crystal on the back of the case allows observation of the movement, which features semi-skeletonized bridges arranged in the shape of a star.
Technique and the creativity make this watch one of the exceptional pieces in the Cartier collection and beyond, whilst design and execution this watch turn into a very desirable and hard to resist timepiece. However the choice of platinum for the 47mm case, makes it also a watch that’s very present on the wrist, but for anyone interested in high watch making, this is one of those collectors watches, that are seldom presented.
In addition to the standard Rotonde de Cartier Earth and Moon, which is priced at $271,000 and limited to just 50 examples, replica Cartier will create many pieces to meet the high market demanding.
