Unveiled last month, Cartier launched a new line of timepieces at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) 2014 watch show in Geneva. At this exclusive annual event, the brand introduced more than 90 new timepieces, including 12 unique pieces, comprising of High Jewellery, Métiers d’Art and Ballon Blanc de Cartier timepieces.
Cartier journeys into new territory with its L’Heure Envoûtée de Cartier high jewellery collection, in which rare stones are infused with animal designs and colour. Cartier has been combining tradition with innovation while utilising forgotten and rare crafts as well as rare and precious stones, which enliven and give another dimension to the luxury timepieces.
Ballon Blanc, Cartier watch
Cartier also premiered the Panthère Ajourée de Cartier watch watch in rhodium-plated, 18 carat gold, set in diamonds and black enamel, in which a majestic feline embraces a Baignoire dial.
Cartier also launched Les Indomptables de Cartier collection which combines a yellow gold, green enamelled dial with crocodile scale and flamingo motifs. As part of the creative Métiers d’Art collection, Cartier has decided to celebrate the beauty of flowers by taking up a new craft in watchmaking: floral marquetry – in order to produce an exceptional limited edition of 20- Ballon Bleu de Cartier 42 mm watches – which creates an explosion of colour.
Ballon Bleu, Cartier floral marquetry parrot watch
The floral marquetry parrot watch, which was one of the highlights of the watch fair, is made in rhodium-plated 18 carat white gold and set with 124 round diamonds. The bracelet in white semi-matte alligator skin contrasts perfectly with the orangey-yellow feathers, black and green emerald eye of the dial. The buckle in rhodium-plated 18 carat is set with 24 diamonds.
Finally, Cartier unveiled the new Ballon Blanc de Cartier watch from the Ballon Bleu collection, a feminine, 24 mm, rhodium finished with pink or white gold set in solitaire diamonds and pearl bracelet timepiece.
All in all, with its exquisite new releases, Cartier reasserts that, again, it is one of the major players on the fine watchmaking stage.
by Xenia Founta