174 Cartier A highly attractive and elegant, Tortue, wristwatch in yellow gold, with Tridor gold bracelet.

Estimate: € 10,000 –⁠ 20,000

A truly iconic representation of Cartier’s enduring design philosophy, the present lot is an exquisite tortue wristwatch, a refined homage to the maison’s pioneering Tortue model. This design, first introduced by the esteemed French jeweler and watchmaker Cartier in the early 1910s, stands as a testament to the brand’s early embrace of shaped watches, departing from the traditional round forms that dominated the era. This particular Tortue, powered by a meticulously crafted manual winding movement, presents a captivatingly petite profile, a characteristic that reflects the elegance of its vintage origins. Measuring 28 × 33 mm, the 18k yellow-gold case, a two-body construction featuring a gracefully curved, or bombé, sapphire crystal, has been remarkably well preserved, exhibiting only sporadic and gentle signs of wear, a testament to its careful stewardship over time. The watch’s bracelet is a veritable masterpiece of goldsmithing, a stunning blend of yellow, pink, and white gold, woven together in a breathtakingly intricate braided texture. The white dial, a canvas of understated elegance, showcases the quintessential Cartier design elements. The classic black Roman numerals, rendered with sharp clarity, encircle the dial, their timeless form instantly recognizable. A closed outer minutes/seconds track, a delicate ring of precision, frames the numerals, adding a layer of functional refinement compleated by the blued steel hands.