Hidden beauty - this striking 1940s bracelet watch of 18k yellow gold is designed as a series of articulated “gas-hose” links, to a concealed dial at the centre, signed Cartier, and concealed clasp.

Cartier is one of a small number of centennial Maisons which has created era-defining jewellery and watches. Cartier claimed its place in the history books of horology with the Santos de Cartier (launched in 1911 but inspired by a watch on a leather strap, which Louis Cartier created in 1904 for his friend the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont), The Tortue (1912), The Bagnoire (1912), The Tank (1917), The Pasha (1932), The Crash (1967) and The Ballon Bleu (2007).

With so many recognisable and iconic designs, it’s always interesting to find a piece where Cartier has prioritised the jewel over the watch, as seen in this mid-century bracelet. Bold, eye-catching and extremely chic, the watch face on this articulated, 18k yellow gold bracelet lies hidden under a hinged pair of gas pipe links. Stylistically, strong gold bracelets were ‘de rigueur’ across Europe and the USA in the 1940s and 1950s - and with many women taking their jewellery from day to night, hidden watch faces gained popularity. Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier and the maison grew exponentially in the early 20th-century under the direction of Louis Cartier in Paris, Pierre Cartier in New York and Jacques Cartier in London.

Cartier is synonymous with creativity, celebrity and royalty. In fact, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom referred to Cartier as the ‘jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers’. This dial of this bracelet watch is signed Cartier and the movement is signed European Watch and Clock Co. There are maker’s marks, UK hallmarks (later), Swiss assay marks and the piece is numbered 552491 5211. A similar design from 1937 can be found in the exhibition catalogue 'The Art of Cartier', Musée du Petit Palais (October 1989- January 1990) pg 160, item number 494. Please note that at the time of cataloguing, the movement for this watch was not running. Omneque and its vendors do not guarantee the future working of the movement.

Materials & Features

Metal: 18k Yellow Gold (stamped 750, maker's marks EJ, signed Cartier )
Weight: 55.4g
Measurements: Length 170mm x Width 15mm, Depth 10mm
Period: 
1940s
Origin:
Paris, Switzerland
Condition Report: Very good condition, movement is not working

 

Reference
Seller ID: FFFJ

Item Location: London, United Kingdom

DELIVERY

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Delivery Timelines: 

UK Addresses - Free
To reduce our delivery footprint, we dispatch deliveries once a week on a Friday, which allow us enough time to undertake quality control of the product before it leaves the dealer. Last orders for delivery the same week will be Thursday at 1pm GMT.

International Addresses - Fees apply
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*International Orders may also be subject to taxes and import duties.

RETURNS
Omnēque offers complimentary shipping & returns on all UK orders. International orders are subject to delivery charges which will be applied at checkout based on the destination.

We will happily refund or exchange any item purchased from Omnēque within 14 days of receiving your item. Christmas gifts may be returned until the end of January. Returns are not accepted on personalised or bespoke items.

We are happy to replace items if they are the wrong size or if they arrived defective or damaged. If you need to exchange your item for the same item or need a different size, please let us know in your email per the instructions below and we will return a form to you to include in your package.

Please follow the below instructions to return your item:

  • Returned items must be unused and in the condition you received them in.

  • Returned items must have any supplied tags including Omnēque security tags still attached, and be in their original packaging.
  • Email us at returns@omneque.com with your name, address, order number and the reason for the return.

A member of our team will be in touch with information on collection of your items. Please allow 5 business days to process your return. Refunds will be made via the same payment method as the purchase or for credit to use again on the website.

*Returns are free of charge for all UK addresses. International orders are subject to delivery charges for returns. Your Omneque customer care team member will advise you depending on the shipping point.

REPAIRS

As each of our dealers has their own repairs policy, please contact hello@omneque.com in the first instance so we may further assist you.

Cartier, 18k Yellow Gold Bracelet / Watch
Cartier, 18k Yellow Gold Bracelet / Watch
Cartier, 18k Yellow Gold Bracelet / Watch