Cartier has never failed to produce a watch of royal calibre. This spring, as part of the annual Watches & Wonders exhibit, Maison’s collection of jewellery watches was replenished with a timepiece that is nothing short of mesmerising: The Clash [Un]limited watch. It is an absolute masterpiece, immediately drawing attention to itself with its elaborate geometric forms and astonishing beauty. Intertwining Cartier’s watchmaking and jewellery codes, this ladies’ watch is not made to tell the time. As Andy Warhol said about another Cartier watch, “I wear it because it’s the watch to wear.”
The collection has five models, available in diamond-paved yellow gold, rose gold and white gold, with the notes of a brand-new violet gold alloy. Two pieces are limited editions, adorned with precious stones. Each model is as much a piece of finest jewellery as it is a timepiece. The three classic models will delight lovers of elegance and sophistication. The Clash [Un]limited watch is made of a rectangular dial with roman numerals at six and twelve o’clock displayed, the edgy gold strap connected with beads assembled by hand that roll upon one another, bringing a sense of ethereality to the sharp geometric forms, the clou carrés and the invisible clasp, that allows for the watch to embrace the hand of its owner smoothly. Bringing these exceptional elements together, Cartier created a timeless jewellery watch that can easily be imagined on the wrist of Audrey Hepburn or Jackie Kennedy.
The limited edition pieces are more exuberant in their colours and design. The first one stands out with its combination of yellow gold, alluring red spinel and coral, and prosperous green chrysoprase and tsavorites, making the timepiece so flamboyant, as well as paying tribute to Cartier’s colourful Tutti Frutti bracelet. The other precious model is black-and-white, using white gold as a base adorned with diamonds and black obsidian. Both models have diamond-paved dials with 71 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling 0.39 carats.
The Maison themselves revealed that the Clash [Un]limited watch was inspired by the creative innovations of Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s Artistic Director of High Jewellery from 1930 to 1970, responsible for Maison’s signature Panthere. To further appreciate The Clash [Un]limited watch, it is necessary to wind the time back. In 1933, Cartier created a water-resistant round wristwatch for the Pasha of Marrakesh, which later evolved into one of Maison’s renowned collections “Pasha de Cartier.” The iconic rectangular Tank watch, worn by Princess Diane, Andy Warhol, and Humphrey Bogart, was made in 1917 and distinguished by the first invisible clasp and artistic numerals. Lastly, Cartier is the watchmaking brand for royalty, having created a variety of timepieces for the royal families of Russia, Spain, and Great Britain. Thus, the Clash [Un]limited watch is a part of this long-standing tradition of watchmaking.
The Clash [Un]limited watch belongs to one of Cartier’s newest collections, Clash de Cartier, celebrating punk spirit. The collection is distinguished for its geometrical intricacies that play with contrasting ideas and combine boldness and elegance, charm and assertiveness, sharpness and tenderness. A house icon, Clash de Cartier is celebrated not only for its classy style that synthesises black onyx and rose gold in an unforgettable union but also for its mechanical complexity. Each stud is mobile and magnetically interconnected in a way that requires the highest level of craftsmanship.
The Clash [Un]Limited, a capsule collection, pushes the creative boundaries even further, demonstrating a radical approach to jewellery creation. The Clash [Un]Limited is audacity punctuated with diamonds, platinum, white gold, black onyx, and charming purple amethysts. It is a collection where each piece — is a statement piece. Inspired by the joining of ambiguities and contrasts, as well as technological refinement, the Clash [Un]limited watch combines power and finesse, transcending all the known limits. It is not just a timepiece, it is a work of extraordinary beauty and sophistication.
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Article edited by Anastasia Fedosova
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