Cartier Cloche Platinum - 13 Rue De La Paix

Origin

Cartier's Parisian heartbeat has long pulsed from its legendary 13 Rue de la Paix boutique. First opened in 1899 when Alfred Cartier moved the maison from Rue Montorgueil to the more refined district near Place Vendôme, this address became both the creative epicentre and the cultural anchor of Cartier, where royalty, artists, and the fashionable elite would converge. Still home to the brand today, it is not merely a boutique, but a symbol of how Parisian luxury could be distilled into architecture, ritual, and design.

Cartier often used special timepieces within this framework to honour the boutique's legacy, producing limited editions that tied physical location to artistry. Among them sits the Cloche, one of Cartier's most idiosyncratic case shapes. First realised in 1921, its bell-like form is unconventional, even daring, designed to work not only as a wristwatch but also as a miniature desk clock when placed on its side. The Cloche became a talking piece of Cartier's design vocabulary, a silhouette as sculptural as practical. Today, the Cloche and its iterations remain one of the pinnacles of the brand's catalogue and are cherished in the broader design world.

Special runs of the Cloche emerged across the 20th century, including a 1995 limited edition of 200 examples in yellow gold, and again in 2007 under the Collection Privée Cartier Paris programme, limited to 100 pieces. But perhaps the most resonant among collectors are those watches tied explicitly to 13 Rue de la Paix, Cartier's spiritual home. These boutique-dedicated models weave the maison's geographic identity into horological expression, exemplifying how Cartier's sense of place enriches its sense of time.

The Watch

For those deeply into Cartier collecting, a few genres and types of pieces from the brand rise above the others. Often pre-1970s creations, NSO creations, and models within the CPCP collection top the list, but there's one other type of Cartier that, for many, remains largely unknown: special retail editions. While the CPCP models are theoretically available everywhere despite their low production numbers, the retail editions are made for exclusive markets and are produced in extremely low numbers, often single or low double-digit runs. Reserved for VVIP clients, the Cartier Cloche 13 Rue De La Paix retains the unmistakable asymmetry of its bell-shaped case, but refines it with Cartier's characteristic restraint. Produced in platinum, this highly exclusive Cloche is not just a rarity in itself, but it's presented today in brand new, unworn condition.

At a glance, the Cloche appears almost architectural in form. The case flares towards the crown side, creating a silhouette that disrupts conventional balance while remaining harmonious on the wrist. This playfulness is not gratuitous: it is a considered act of design that highlights Cartier's ability to challenge aesthetic norms without sacrificing elegance. Complete in an all polished finish and with a ruby cabochon to indicate its Pt. form.

Naturally, the dial is quintessential Cartier, except for the elements that are not. While the presence of black Roman numerals, pomme hands (here in white metal), and a black chemin-de-fer track meet expectations, the rest of its features stray from the norm. It begins with its vertically brushed salmon dial, a light colour that cleverly pairs with the heavy-hitting platinum of the case. Secondly, the 12 Roman numeral, XII, has been replaced with an Arabic '13' numeral, a nod to the historic number 13, Rue De La Paix address. While this addition is consistent with other Rue De La Paix editions such as the Driver, Tortue Monopoussoir, and Tank, it particularly stands out on the Cloche due to the curve of the 3 mirroring the unique curved edge of the Cloche's case. The result is a face that feels distinctly Parisian, considered and poised, like a Haussmann façade viewed from an unexpected angle. 

The caseback of this piece also holds significance thanks to its engraving, which commemorates Cartier's historic address.

The Movement

Powering the Cloche 13 Rue De La Paix is Cartier's in-house calibre 1917 MC, a manually wound movement named to honour the year Cartier first introduced the Tank. Its slim profile is just 2.9mm thick and purpose-built for shaped cases like the Cloche, where geometry demands technical adaptability. With 38 hours of autonomy, the 1917 MC embodies Cartier's discreet approach to mechanics: understated, efficient, and wholly integrated into the watch's form. 

How It Wears

To wear the Cloche is to embrace Cartier's spirit of the unexpected. On the wrist, the asymmetric case challenges traditional orientation. It's 37mm height by 28mm width, and a svelte 6.5mm profile gives it a jewel-like intimacy. The bell-shaped case naturally draws the eye, and while its asymmetry might appear unconventional at first glance, it settles against the wrist with surprising comfort.

Condition

This Cartier Cloche 13 rue de la Paix limited edition is in brand-new, unworn condition, delivered as a complete set with its beautiful wooden presentation box and a pair of Cartier cufflinks.

* Every watch is delivered in a Mr WATCHLEY Membrane Protection Box for a safe transportation in addition to its original set * 

If you desire to take a closer look at this precious timepiece, don't hesitate to contact us and make an appointment. We are based in Ghent, Belgium