Ronde Louis Cartier Sparkling Panthère

THE CARTIER MÉTIERS D’ART

RONDE LOUIS CARTIER SPARKLING PANTHÈRE MARQUETRY WATCH

It is there, watching us: the Maison’s emblematic panther, whose head takes shape between light and shadow in a wide array of sparkling colours.

Under the motif’s eHect of the fragmentation of light, the craftsmen from the Maison des Métiers d’Art have given the animal a more masculine and graphic expression than ever before. To make this composition re ect the light, a gold grid and a geometric mesh were fashioned and then inlaid with over 120 tiny elements. Part of this grid is covered in an intense black to accentuate the chiaroscuro. A vibrant blue colour is achieved by applying a pigmented layer on the background. When held up to the light, the material is brought to life and the colour intensifies, bringing out the warm tones of the marquetry.

Two pear-cut collet-set diamonds are used for the eyes and bring its gaze to life.

This marquetry is made of 124 elements: 16 blades of straw, 8 wooden components, 2 yellow and 34 white gold elements, 16 sapphire crystal fragments and 48 mother-of- pearl. A game of immense precision, requiring each element to be integrated one by one after 44 hours of marquetry work. Each piece required more than 10 techniques.

A timepiece available in a limited edition of 30 individually numbered watches.