This year’s edition of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, SIHH, will witness Cartier’s unveiling of two new watches. Faithful to the house’s standards and creativity, one “Skeleton Clé” and one “Panthères et Colibri” reveal the brand’s expertise and precision embodied in each of its releases.

Created in 2015, the Clé de Cartier watches have always been a fusion between line, volume, movement and strong design. Its name comes from the winding crown it features. Considered an emblem of the house’s uniqueness, it is now introduced with its first skeleton movement featuring scientifically designed automatic winding that enhances its aesthetic. In this open-work design, the bridges come in the shape of Roman numerals, structuring the movement and defining its appearance. The skeleton takes a new dimension, making Clé de Cartier all the more stunning.

The panther is an omnipresent element in Cartier’s history, whether in physical form or in spirit. Its femininity reigns over the house’s creations. On the dial of the Panthère et Colibri watch, a panther lies under a flying hummingbird. The breathtaking scene sees the appearance of a baby panther as soon as the winding-crown is pressed. This mechanism is activated by the power reserve, while the time remaining until the watch needs rewinding is indicated by the breadth of the bird’s flight. This exquisite aesthetic and refined decoration see a black diamond-studded background and a filigree of wild plants. To add a contrasting halo of light, the bezel is fully set with diamonds while the profile of the feline stands out by its volume, diamond-set coat and black lacquer spots. In other terms, this masterpiece truly represents Cartier’s creativity by turning a watch complication into a feminine scene that depicts the tenderness linking a mother to her child.

Take a closer look at these two masterpieces in the Photo Gallery below.

Mirella Haddad