221 Cartier An extremely rare and very unsual, Driver Basculante, wristwatch in pink gold, with cabriolet sistem.

Estimate: € 35.000 –⁠ 70.000

Few creations in Cartier’s long and storied history can rival the sculptural boldness and avant-garde spirit of this incredibly rare “Driver” basculante. At the heart of its visual and technical impact lies its extraordinary pyramidal case—an arresting design with sharply faceted, triangular flanks that defy every convention of traditional watchmaking. Far more than decorative, this architectural form transforms the watch into a piece of wearable kinetic art. The geometric silhouette, reminiscent of Art Deco skyscrapers or modernist sculpture, is as daring as it is functional: its angular sides open to reveal a hidden dial, shielded by a clever reversible cabriolet mechanism. In an era when wristwatches were still rooted in round, conservative shapes, Cartier imagined something that looked like it came from the future. Oversized for its time and unapologetically radical, the watch commands attention not through ornament but through form. Its lines are clean, its proportions striking, and its presence on the wrist utterly unique. Powered by a European Watch & Clock Co. movement and fitted with a Roman numeral dial of refined simplicity, it offers a fascinating contrast to the dramatic case. Together, they create a timepiece that is intellectually provocative, aesthetically unmatched, and mechanically sound. Very few of these pieces were ever made—and even fewer survive today in such original condition. Among all of Cartier’s historic designs, this pyramidal “Driver basculante” stands out as one of the most daring expressions of design-forward watchmaking the maison has ever produced.