The Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire watch transforms the
very essence of the perpetual calendar's functioning and appearance. The
Maison's idea involves inventing a creative central display that stems from a
revolutionary concept.
Designed like an amphitheatre, with the intention of
clarifying the perpetual calendar's indications, the Rotonde de Cartier
Astrocalendaire's display is an incredible watchmaking feat. It overcomes
numerous readability issues that are specific to the traditional approach to
this complication, which requires the juxtaposition of twelve months, seven
days, the date and the type of year in a diameter of just a few centimetres.
Arranged three-dimensionally in concentric levels, the
display of the perpetual calendar's functions is spread over the different
levels: the day is indicated on the first. It is followed by the month on the
second, which is itself surmounted by the date. Thin windows move along these
tiers. The perpetual calendar's final function is indicated by a hand located
on the back of watch and shows what type of year it is: a leap year or a normal
year.
The design of the movement: a technical breakthrough
Consisting of gear trains, the construction of the Rotonde
de Cartier Astrocalendaire watch's movement is a watchmaking feat that solves
all the functional and ergonomic problems connected with this type of
complication. It breaks away from the design of traditional perpetual calendars
and introduces an alternative that enables any risk of breakage to be
anticipated, adjustment errors to be resolved and chronometry to be improved.
Anticipating risk of breakage
Partially patented, the gear train system of the Rotonde de
Cartier Astrocalendaire's 9459 MC movement replaces the traditional lever and
spring mechanisms with a gear train mechanism that substantially limits the
risk of breakage when the watch is over-wound at inadvisable times. The traditional
design of a perpetual calendar prohibits any manual correction several hours
before and after midnight at the risk of breaking the mechanism. The
adjustments made using four minuscule push-pieces on the side of the case are
impractical and never clearly identified.
Simplified setting using the crown
This operating problem no longer exists with the Rotonde de
Cartier Astrocalendaire watch's movement thanks to a setting system that uses
the crown.
In addition to the traditional setting of the hour and
minute, the crown also controls the date and month indicators.
This ease of use is further increased by the possibility of
correcting the functions both forwards and backwards. Wearers of the Rotonde de
Cartier Astrocalendaire watch need no longer fear going beyond the current date
as this error is easily corrected.
Masterful chronometry. The Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire watch houses at its
heart a flying tourbillon: a complication that is emblematic of the Fine
Watchmaking collection.
Case: platinum
Diameter: 45 mm
Crown: beaded in platinum, set with a blue sapphire cabochon
Crystal: sapphire
Case back: sapphire
Dial: silver-coloured
Bezel: platinum
Hands: sword-shaped blued-steel
Casing-up diameter: 45 mm
Case thickness: 15.1 mm
Strap: black alligator-skin
Clasp: double adjustable folding buckle in 18-carat white
gold
Water-resistance: 30 metres / 3 bar / 100 feet
Movement: Manufacture mechanical with automatic winding,
calibre 9459 MC, tourbillon and perpetual calendar with circular display,
"Poinçon de Genève" certified timepiece
Casing-up diameter: 14 lines, i.e. 31.38 mm
Total diameter: 32 mm
Thickness: 8.1 mm
Number of jewels: 51
Number of parts: 382
Balance: 21,600 vibrations/hour
Power reserve: approx. 50 hours
Limited series of 100 numbered pieces.
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