Cartier

Thank you so much for this extraordinary report!

I'm wowed by your pictures and coverage.  I love seeing all the behind-the-scenes shots of artisans at their craft and humongous machines doing their thing.

Cartier's integrated method of production is quite impressive!

Cheers,
Daos

in depth. Love the way Cartier are pushing forward, while also taking care of the past and heritage pieces. If ever there was a lesson on how to enhance your capabilities and push towards the future, Cartier provides the ideal case study. Very very impressive.

Andrew H

(who is still awaiting that chance to interview a certain film star! )

Loved the article and pictures! Truly a remarkable documentary!

Just a small question about the backwind caliber shown in the pictures for this installment (Chapter XIII: Restoration). I believe that you may have mis-identified the small backwind movement shown in the pictures with the diamond bracelet. The caption claims that it is a Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 104, however I've owned a watch with the caliber 104 movement (in a pair of platinum cufflinks) and it has the winding crown centered along the edge of the movement (similar to the caliber 101 placement), not offset to one side as shown in your pictures. The movement shown also looks much bigger than the cal 104.

I believe the watch movement shown in your article is actually a caliber 403..... another slightly larger member of the JLC DuoPlan family. Here is a picture of a caliber 403 from one of the Cartier watches in my collection for comparison to the movement in your pictures:

Cartier/JLC Caliber 403 DuoPlan Movement


To give a sense of the size of these movements, the caliber 403 measures 20mm long x 8.5mm wide x 3.73mm thick
By comparison, the smaller cal 104 movement measures 16mm long x 5.8mm wide x 3.4mm thick

Regards,

Greg

It appears you are right, it is indeed the 403. The 101 and 104 were also used for the Duoplan and are similar in some respects, but different calibres all together as you point out.

- SJX

Hello SJX,

Thanks for taking us along for the manufacturer tour at Cartier!  Nice Ballon Bleu wrist shot! 

-MW

Thanks SJX.  In particular I enjoyed the post on the finishing and decorating.  It's such intricate work and you can see the concentration on the watchmakers.

Regards,
ED-209

We clearly understand that the Cartier strategy is based upon strong know-how.

Fr.Xavier

Fantastic report...this should be compiled itno a book.

BTW, any info on the number of employees in that manufacturing plant?

Regards

Ling

No message body

Very thorough report that many will enjoy to read over and over.

Great work SJX!

Cheers,
Anthony

the more I am finding it impossible to resist the temptation.

I had a chance to visit the NYC flagship boutique - wow!  Now that is the classic definition of luxury Salon!

I agree with you about the dial and casework, Cartier has always been tops in these areas and now that movements are back a top priority, their horological "quality" and interest is second to none.

Kudos, SJX, great intro series and bravo, Cartier!

TM

What a fantastic and insightful article. Thank you for putting in so much effort to allow all of us access to such good information.