CARTIER – Revolutionary ID
Since 1899, Cartier has been based in Paris, but also in London and New York. Number 13, Rue de la Paix, the historical heart of the Maison’s expertise, was where the first mass-market “Santos” watch was sold in 1911. By bringing out the novel concept of the wristwatch, these watchmakers had already played a pioneering role… The Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, blending state-of-the-art technologies and traditional crafts, is where this new generation of watchmakers now designs and makes Cartier watches. With Cartier ID One and Cartier ID Two, the Maison continues to innovate and leave its mark on Fine Watchmaking.
Concept watches such as Cartier ID One and Cartier ID Two were never meant to be marketed, despite the years of research and all the investment that went into making them. Their role is to express a vision of the future and point the way to future goals. Each of the innovations they contain may one day become a reality. And Cartier’s new Astrotourbillon Carbon Crystal watch, presented in July 2012, uses some of the technological solutions tried and tested in Cartier ID One: the niobium-titanium case, carbon crystal components, and the adjustment-free and lubrication-free pallet and escapement wheel. From the one-off concept-watch to the production run, Cartier innovation pushes back the boundaries of watchmaking while cultivating the esthetic values of Fine Watchmaking. Cartier has totally rethought the concept of the tourbillon and come up with a carriage with its axis of rotation at the center of the movement. The off-center balance wheel bridge is designed as an arrow and turns once round the dial every minute, pointing out the seconds. Innovation at the service of functionality.
Coming in 2013 …
