CARTIER 101 Cocktail watch, Calibre 101 Circa... Lot 36

CARTIER 101 Cocktail watch, Calibre 101 Circa 1930. Ladies' wristwatch in 950/1000 platinum and diamonds. Rectangular case set with diamonds, winding crown on back, screw closure, signed Cartier. Cream dial, painted Arabic numerals. Cal. 101 hand-wound mechanical movement, signed "European watch co". Articulated 750/1000 white gold bracelet set with brilliants. Dimensions: 6 x 24 mm. Length: 17 cm. Gross weight: 18.2 gr. Considered one of watchmaking's greatest feats, the calibre 101 was, and has remained for almost 100 years, the world's smallest mechanical movement. At the beginning of the 20th century, this caliber was an innovation that transformed women's watchmaking. At a time when women's watches were still in their infancy, this ingenious movement, known as the "Duoplan" because of its two-level design, enabled the creation of extremely slender and elegant watches. Developed by Jaeger-LeCoultre and distributed by Cartier's European Watch Co, this innovative mechanism positions the Swiss manufacture as a leader in the ladies' watch market. Launched in 1929, this baguette movement inspires particularly sophisticated feminine models. As delicate as a river of diamonds, this model is a perfect illustration of the Manufacture's expertise.