Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir Chronograph 2396 White gold

CARTIER TORTUE MONOPOUSSOIR 2396 
White Gold | Rosette guilloché dial

Origin

Since 1847 Cartier has produced some fine mechanical wristwatches but in the 1990s the Parisian brand was primarily known for its quartz watches. The Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP) with its haute horlogerie mechanical movements and archived based designs had to put Cartier back on the map as a premier Manufacture. 

The Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir has been launched in 1998 in this spirit as part of the much sought-after CPCP-collection and has been available in very limited numbers until 2008. It soon became a reference point in the history of fine watchmaking due to its caliber 045MC produced by THA Èbauche. A collaborative movement manufacture – founded in 1996 – consisting of three of the biggest names in independent watchmaking: Vianney Halter, Denis Flageollet (founder of De Bethune) and François-Paul Journe. 

Dating back to 1912, its design derives from the first ever Tortue created by Louis Cartier. Inspired by the Tonneau it is known for its distinguishably elegant, rounded form.

The Watch

This manual-winding, 18K white gold medium-sized timepiece is extremely rare, produced in a limited number of circa 200 pieces. Elegance and a vintage feel are combined in the rosette guilloché patterned dial design, blued steel Breguet style hands and an inky blue round minute track as an homage to the Tortue Monopoussoirs of the twenties.

The outer chemin de fer (railway track) indicates minutes and seconds in a case of 43 x 34mm and 10-mm thickness, with comfortable wear because of the slight curve of the caseback. This manual chronograph with operating single pusher (one push to start, two to stop, three to reset) comes on a Saffiano grey leather strap with matching 18K white gold folding buckle.

The Movement

The Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir 2396, also known as monopusher or single push piece, houses a mechanical handwound chronograph movement – calibre 045MC – with a lever escapement and clever clutch system, guaranteeing a serene hand gliding across the dial, suppressing the ‘jolt’ (skipping of the hand at the beginning of a translation movement) thanks the double swivel pen.

This transmission of motion of the second wheel of the base movement to the chronograph’s central wheel, as well as the stunningly workshop-crafted parts, is visible through the transparent sapphire crystal caseback. The traditionally bushed and circular-grained bottomplate, at the heart of movement, is in perfect harmony with the intertwined double C cipher of Cartier engraved on the bridges.

The 22-jewel manual-winding movement has a power reserve of 40 hours (chrono off) or 34 hours (chrono on), with a balance beating at 21,600 A/h. Overall, the 045MC caliber is a great work of art with strong design heritage and has only been used for the various Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir models, the Tank Monopoussoir and the De Bethune Monopoussoir.

Condition

This rare Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir is in perfect as-new condition and has excellent mechanical functionality with original movement. It comes as a full set, with signature red Cartier box and complementing papers.

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