Watch of the Week: Clé de Cartier Skeleton

The introduction of the Fine Watchmaking Collection by Cartier did several things for the brand, and one of them was making them known for their refined skeleton watches. This was a complication Cartier previously rarely ventured into, with only a few examples known in their history, many of them piece unique.

Over the last couple of years, Cartier did show that they can make an incredible skeleton watch. For this they followed the same recipe: they created bridges which look like Roman numerals (a Cartier signature since the brand was founded) Because Cartier is also the brand of the shaped cases, many of these movements had to be completely redesigned, as the movement has to fit the case precisely. Then you get watches as the Crash Skeleton, Santos-Dumont Skeleton, and this Clé de Cartier Skeleton.

Visually the watch is very pleasing because Cartier kept it so pure. It’s the movement and two blued sword hands, nothing more. They compliment the shape of the Clé case very nicely and make the watch look modern, without being too edgy.

Unlike the other skeleton, watches does the Clé de Cartier Skeleton has something that they don’t. The movement is an automatic, drawing its power from the skeletonized rotor on the back. Cartier did such a good job on this, that it is very hard to notice the 22K white gold rotor, as only a very small part of it is visible when you wear the watch on the wrist.

The beauty about this Clé de Cartier Skeleton is that although Cartier doesn’t really have a heritage when it comes to these type of watches, it does fit seamlessly into their brand profile. This watch can only be mistaken for one thing, and that is a Cartier, and what a beautiful Cartier it is!