Cartier Important nephrite, hardstone, mother-of-pearl and diamond mystery clock, circa...

The circular facetted rock crystal dial within a bezel set with brilliant-cut diamonds, the diamond-set hands of flame design, the gilt silver case and base embellished with nephrite, hardstone, mother-of-pearl and brilliant-cut diamonds, measurements approximately 280 x 160 x 95mm, signed Cartier, numbered, accompanied by a winding key and a fitted case stamped Cartier.

Condition Report:
Please note we do not guarantee watch movements. The movement is running at the time of cataloguing. The case is in good condition consistent with age of the piece. Most of the gilt has worn off, the metal surfaces showing tarnishing. Left arc-boutant slightly loose. Some very light scratching throughout. Small crack to the hard stone on the outer side of the case at 7 o’clock. The dial is in good condition consistent with age, showing some scratching and mistiness. Please note that Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement and that a service may be required at the buyer's discretion.

Base signed Cartier, case numbered 175’894, mechanical and key wound caliber. Oxidation and tarnish to the gilt-metal. Measuring approximately 280 x 160 x 95mm. Accompanied by a fitted presentation case stamped Cartier and a wounding key. Not accompanied by papers.

Catalogue Note:
The mystery clock is without a doubt Cartier’s most wondrous innovation whereby the hands of the clock seem suspended in mid-air, telling time apparently unaided by any mechanism. In fact, the design cleverly uses two disks of transparent quartz with two glass disks in between, one holding the hand for the hours, the other for the minutes, which are rotated by a mechanism hidden within the frame. Mystery clocks were only produced at Cartier Paris and not in the London and New York houses. Their production continues to this day, but exceedingly few examples are created each year.

Maurice Coüet developed the mystery clock for Cartier in circa 1911. The first example was called the “Model A” and had a rectangular outline, the mechanism was hidden by two vertical racks. By 1920, Coüet perfected his design so that it only required one central axel to connect the dial to the mechanism which allowed for a greater variety in design. Several types of mystery clocks were created, including the “Ecran” which had a rectangular dial, and the “Portique”, which had a pendant dial that took on the shape of a gong. East-Asian design elements featured prominently in the mystery clocks of the 1920s. Nowhere is this better expressed than in the twelve Animalia clocks which were produced between 1922 and 1931. In these extraordinary works, the dials rests on a basis of carp fish, turtles, elephants and chimeras, all exquisitely carved from jadeite, coral and rock crystal.

The mystery clock offered in this sale was created circa 1980. Its design elements, in particular the carved nephrite vase, the stylised hours and hands of flame design, refer to the East Asian motifs that featured prominently on the celebrated mystery clocks of the art deco era.