Cartier’s Ballon Bleu de Cartier Tourbillon Double Jumping Second Time Zone

Revolutionizing the world of world traveller’s chronographs, the Ballon Bleu de Cartier Tourbillion Double Jumping Second Time Zone watch has been designed to be more like a regulator.  It has a central minute hand, but features two jumping hour counters, one of which is for starting-point time and the other is for local time.  The watch also allows aficionados to observe the timepiece’s moving mechanism.

The watch combines the classic ideal of beauty in specific proportions and function.  The design was purposely made for the eye to instinctively go to the jumping hour discs. The timepiece’s blue hands are adjustable by the wearer.  However, one of the most stunning aspects of the watch is its previously mentioned proportions. Based on the shape of a classic pocket watch, the 46mm diameter Ballon Bleu de Cartier is shaped in such a way to look and feel comfortable yet elegant on the wearer’s wrist.  An alligator skin strap adds another touch to the chronograph’s understated luxury.

The engineering marvels of this watch also add to its artistic value; the mechanism is visible on the face as well as back of the timepiece.  The mechanical Manufacture 9456 MC calibre movement, which is manually wound, has a flying tourbillon regulator that features the “C” of Cartier.  The carriage is slightly raised in order for it to fit into the mechanism’s central area.

There will only be 100 of the timepieces made; 50 will be done in 18 karat pink gold, and the other 50 will be done in 18 karat white gold.  The watches also have a fluted crown, in 18 karat pink or white gold, set with a sapphire cabochon.   The Ballon Bleu de Cartier Tourbillon Double Jumping Time Zone is also water resistant to a depth of 30 meters.

Story and photo source:  Timezone