Cartier ID TWO: Innovation and Efficiency

MTF's exploration of the Cartier ID TWO concept watch delves into the fundamental principles of horological efficiency, drawing parallels between scientific pioneers and Cartier's innovative approach. This article highlights how the brand leverages advanced materials and engineering to push the boundaries of mechanical watchmaking, making a 2013 concept relevant to today's pursuit of extreme accuracy and performance.

What is the connection between the three people shown and the Cartier ID TWO watch?

Galileo theorised that objects would accelerate in the same way under the effect of gravity without the confounding air resistance.

Cartier introduced “proof-of-concept” watches (Not for Sale) from the Cartier ID programme. ID stands for “Innovation and Development” or “IDeas”. These are unique pieces intended to test a vision or indicate a direction. Cartier ID ONE was reported in part 5 of this Cartier Connections series (reference link below).

It featured their first adjustment-free watch and carbon crystal tourbillon. The tourbillon was first proposed by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1795 and patented in 1801; as a soluton against the effects of gravity on a balance wheel.

Recently, Cartier has focused on more substantial improvements in developing watches’ resistance to external conditions such as temperature, magnetism and shocks. Current COSC chronometric standards allows running tolerances of -4/+6 seconds per day.

In their secret lair, Switzerland’s master watchmakers are working towards the most extreme accuracy. Thus, in the heart of the Cartier Manufacture, the ID Section uses new technologies and novel materials with tolerances down to a thousandth of a millimeter.

Mechanical engineering is about energy management and efficiency. A watch movement only uses a small percentage of its energy productively. Friction, air resistance and all kinds of losses sap the available power. An appalling 75% of the energy supplied by the mainspring is wasted !

Following on from Cartier ID ONE, Cartier developed the Cartier ID TWO, a second concept watch to explore improving the efficiency of a watch movement.

The objectives were:
Increasing stored energy by a third.
Reducing energy consumption by half.
Maintain a constant volume of movement.

Despite the simplicity of concept, this revolutionary solution brought extreme technical difficulties. To avoid leaks, the engineers had to design two-part case, without any screws. The seals between the case block and the back, as well as those for the setting crown were made more airtight by the addition of nanoparticles.