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SIHH 2014 introducing Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire

Dear Forumners,

At Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2004 (SIHH), Cartier is presenting more than 90 new timepieces!

Obviously, we have to focus on a few select novelties at a time.  In the run up to the SIHH, FrX and I have been "refreshing our memories" with previous watches that may have some bearing on the novelties for 2014.

Old Teasers:

cartier.watchprosite.com

cartier.watchprosite.com

Before the LIVE reports from our team in Geneva, here is perhaps the exceptional technical piece from Cartier in 2014: Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire watch.

Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire is a surprising new interpretation of the perpetual calendar utilising creative design and a multi-tier circular display. It should require little time to adapt to the day, date and month display at the centre of the dial, as it is quite intuitive.

Simply start by looking at the mesmerising flying tourbillon at the centre of the "amphitheatre". If you can draw your gaze away from that marvellous  visage, each tier of concentric rings outwards imparts information about Day, Month and Date in a concise sweep.

Clearly marked windows frame the correct day - month - date. The ergonomic concept is to concentrate on a few degrees of visual field arc. The seldom used Leap year indicator is on the back of the watch.

The traditional perpetual calendar display usually requires looking at 4 different windows spread out widely on the dial, ostensibly for "clarity" and yet the eye sweep is purposely and repeatedly across the widest dial area. The concept is to achieve clarity by separating the information displays.

Three key technical master strokes

Mechanism protection
The gear train system of the 9459 MC movement replaces the traditional lever and spring mechanisms with a gear train mechanism that substantially reduces the risk of breakage when the watch is over-wound or adjusted at inadvisable times.

The traditional design of a perpetual calendar prohibits manual correction several hours before and after midnight. The adjustments are usually made using four tiny push-pieces on the side of the case; many such mechanisms are fiddly and not easy to identify. I don't know about you but by the time I could afford perpetual calendar watches, my far-sightedness made it difficult to use them!

Simplified setting using the crown
The adjustment of the Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire is simplified with a setting system that uses the crown.

In addition to the usual setting of the hour and minute, the crown also controls the date and month indicators.

For the frequent traveller across International Date Line, the watch is adjustable both forwards and backwards for date. Users of the Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire watch need not fear going beyond the current date as this error is easily corrected. Old fashioned perpetual calendars required manual adjustment forward by 4 years to correct.

Masterful chronometry
The Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire watch contains a flying tourbillon and the movement qualifies for the Geneva Seal to continue the "family" tradition of prior Rotonde de Cartier Astrorégulateur and Rotonde de Cartier Astrotourbillon watches.

Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire watch
Tourbillon complication, perpetual calendar with circular display, calibre 9459 MC
"Poinçon de Genève" certified timepiece
Case: platinum
Diameter: 45 mm
Crown: beaded in platinum, set with a blue sapphire cabochon
Crystal: sapphire
Case back: sapphire
Dial: silver-coloured Bezel: platinum
Hands: sword-shaped blued-steel
Casing-up diameter: 45 mm
Case thickness: 15.1 mm
Strap: black alligator-skin
Clasp: double adjustable folding buckle in 18-carat white gold
Water-resistance: 30 metres / 3 bar / 100 feet