Cartier

The flagship watch for the Fine Watchmaking collection at SIHH 2012 is the magnificent Rotonde de Cartier Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon watch. The tone, volume (68 dB) and clarity are superb, as is the finishing (the movement has the Geneva Seal). In fact this is the best finished Cartier watch produced today, in my humble opinion.

The movement is equipped with an air governor which is silent, as well as gongs with a square profile for maximum contact with the hammers. And the choice of a button rather than a slide for the repeater is to minimise the mass of the case, thus improving the volume.

Though this is also available in rose gold, the best sounding is the titanium case version, pictured here. Despite being a large 45 mm in diameter, the proportions look right and the watch sits well on the wrist. I very much like the aesthetics as well.

In anticipation of the question, according to Carole Forestier the movement is in-house, and not derived from any Roger Dubuis calibre.

This repeater is tops in terms of construction and design. Bravo!

- SJX

 

This message has been edited by SJX on 2011-12-17 23:42:20

The tourbillon doesn't have any of the signature design elements of RD's work. It's an interesting piece, I don't know how I feel about the tourbillon hole in the dial, but I'd love to have a chance to make that decision in person (Hey Cartier, you owe the city of Boston a show, maybe this could be it?)

thanks for the sneak preview
A

Thanks.

 

Vte

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I'm seduced by this watch... but I have to see it... and to hear it!

Thanks for the news!

Fx

I would love to see, handle, wear, and HEAR it.  But looks and sounds promising.  Not sure about the size, though....  Would have loved the similar one in the pocket watch case, if it has to be 45mm.... crazy?

Ken

This works well despite size. Unlike say Astroregulateur which was clunky. 

In today's market you really cant do something under 40mm.

ALot of folks talk about they wearing the watch and not the other way round, but for me i dont find that if the watch is big it overwhelms me, in fact to small and its puny, such as my Grand Seiko, which i now find disappointing in the fact that it IS too small.

I dont see why one cant carry off at least a 40mm, how could that be huge?

Just my 7 rupiahs.

Stephen

post a sound file? It is interesting that the titanium sounds better than the rose gold, as rose gold is usually the most clear. I find the finishing quite nice and the layout interesting. My only dislike is the crown, but that is just personal taste.

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!

very nice piece! while normally i would prefer a even more stripped down dial(skeletonized dial below those roman numerals) 

Because as you can see the movement is quite large so that would only work if the movement was skeletonised as well. Maybe in the future....

- SJX

consistently year after year.  Beautiful piece IMO

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