SJX
[Purist]
8540
A rare look at the Cartier Pasha de Cartier Panthere Skeleton
Only a handful of the stunning Pasha de Cartier Panthere Skeleton are made each year. It is a woman's jewellery watch, but one that is also a deeply accomplished technical watch. A woman who wears such a watch probably knows her watches, or at least her husband does! This watch is also a perfect representation of Cartier's skills as a jeweller and watchmaker - the movement is finished by the high horology decoration atelier while the gems are set at the adjacent high jewellery workshop, in the Cartier manufacture in La Chaux-de-fonds (below). Set with 4.1 carats of diamonds on the case and movement, with emeralds for the panther eyes, this is a fusion of high jewellery and highly accomplished watchmaking. The 9613 MC movement used here is a variant of the 9611 MC movement used in the Santos skeleton. The familial resemblance is obvious. As with all watches from the Fine Watchmaking, the movement is finished to haute horlogerie standard, with beautifully executed anglage; though I do wish there were some sharp interior angles on the bridges which would take the movement finish to a whole new level. Watches like this skeleton, as well as the jump hour are to me the highlights of the Fine Watchmaking collection, because they represent high watchmaking with a twist, in a way that few others can accomplish. On the other hand, models like the flying tourbillon - which is a well crafted and also well priced timepiece - are less interesting because they are not to different from the competition. I hope to see, and I know I will, more watches like this at SIHH 2011. 
- SJX
A rare look at the Cartier Pasha de Cartier Panthere Skeleton
Beautiful creation.
I agree that Cartier
Is that a lock on the crown?