Collection
Docob's recent acquisition of the Cartier Tortue Perpetual Calendar Ref. 2540 from the esteemed Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP) highlights the enduring appeal of Cartier's horological artistry. His detailed post, complete with personal insights and gathered specifications, serves as a valuable resource for collectors interested in this elusive reference. This article delves into the nuances of the CPCP collection and the specific features that make this Tortue Perpetual Calendar a cherished piece.
Cartier Ref. 2540 Collection Privee Tortue Automatic Perpetual Calendar 18k White Gold
- Introduced in 2001
- 18K whitegold case w/ 18k white gold deployment buckle
- Case width 34mm (excluding crown) and 43mm Lug to Lug
- Barrel shaped tonneau solid two-body case
- Curved sapphire crystals, and curved sapphire caseback
- Case back engraved with "CARTIER – WATER RESISTANT – 2450 – SWISS MADE," hallmarks, and a serial number
- Octagonal pull out winding crown set with a sapphire cabochon
- Polished straight screwed lugs, and convex bezel
- Silver flinque sunray guilloche dial with painted black Roman numeral hour markers, with the Cartier secret signature in the "X" around a black railway-style minute scale with black square hour indices.
- Blued steel Breguet-style hands
- Three silver recessed subsidiary dials with black Arabic numerals, markers, and blued indicator hands, including a radial date register at 9 o'clock, a month and red leap year dial at 6 o'clock, and there is a radial day indicator in French at the 3 o'clock position
- Water resistant to 30 meters/100 feet
- 40-hour power reserve at full winding
- 11mm thickness from bottom of lug to top of crystals, as the watch is curved, the thickest part of the watch is only 9.7mm
- Mechanical automatic self-winding Cartier caliber 9100 MC movement. Manufactured by frederic piguet.
- Perpetual Calender complicatons with month, date, day of the week and leap year indicator
- Movement is rhodium-plated and engraved with special Cartier double C and oeil-de-perdrix embellishment
- 29 jewels
- A straight-line lever escapement, and a monometallic balance. It includes a shock-absorber device, a self-compensating flat balance-spring
- 18K white gold rotor with a skeletonized Cartier signature
- Oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Cal. 9100MC Diameter 25.6mm, and Height 4.45mm
Found these information from EWC past listing , Past Auctions Photo , and an Ebay listing for the technical details sheet in Spanish
The Wempe Tonneau represents the brand's entry in the shaped watch category, distinguished by its tonneau case configuration within the Chronometerwerke series. This reference demonstrates Wempe's approach to classical case forms with contemporary manufacturing standards.
The 40mm steel case houses the manual-wind Caliber CW3 movement, offering a power reserve of 38-45 hours. The watch features a white dial beneath sapphire crystal protection, with a fixed bezel and leather strap configuration. Water resistance is rated to 30 meters.
This reference appeals to collectors seeking shaped case alternatives from independent German watchmaking. The manual-wind movement and tonneau case form position it as a dress-oriented piece within Wempe's contemporary catalog. Production commenced in 2018 and continues presently, making it readily available in the current market.
Here you will get honest comments and assessments from true collectors. The first question i have why do you feel it needs to be serviced. If it is running within reasonable specs just enjoy it. If it is slipping and keeping terrible time the yes service with Cartier at there priced. Enjoy
As there no second hands, not sure if the watch is running in specs. for the week i have been wearing it, time seems to be correct. One thing i have notice when setting the leap year indicator is that it is not fully centered. if u look at the pic i took of the face of the watch, u see the red square is not quite centered. i guess something might be sticking. and as a 18years old watch with no records of service, i guess the watch might need a maintenance. But you are correct, in the mean time,
My first, and thus far only, Cartier is a Tortue from the Collection Privee as well. I think it's the most beautiful watch I've ever owned.
This is a fantastic looking watch and so much more attractive than the yellow gold version. For me CPCP was the best Cartier ever produced, the series ran from 1998-2008. It is hard to say when your watch was sold, all I know it was not available during the first launch. It was not a watch produced just for France, it was an International item. How many Cartier produced is hard to say. At the moment many collectors keep their CPCP watches, that's why you see so few on the second hand market. For
Love the blue on the dial, very special. Definitly would like to get one in the future.
does cartier usually sell french versions of the watch overseas as well? Or all oversea versions of any model will be in english? Read some post about the CPCP that they hav special versions for the chinese market. so my first guess was this one is a special version for the french market. European watch co said in their past listing that the msrp was $39000 but not sure its correct or not. Also i would like to find a period correct box for the watch. Does the whole cpcp collection have the same
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