Imagine a watch that defies gravity, seemingly floating in mid-air. The Cartier Double Mystery Tourbillon achieves just that. Utilizing a brilliantly designed sapphire crystal disc with anti-reflective treatment, Cartier’s master watchmakers have created an illusion of a suspended tourbillon.
By carving a hole the size of the tourbillon into the disc and rotating it, they allow the energy to flow seamlessly into the tourbillon, making it rotate once every minute. The secret lies in the gear track around the edge of the disc, connected to a large gear completing a rotation every minute. It’s like having a tiny Ferris wheel on your wrist!
The watch features a hand-wound mechanical movement developed by independent watchmakers, the culmination of years of research. Every moving part’s speed is meticulously calculated to minimize energy consumption. The titanium tourbillon frame is lightweight, just 0.28 grams, to enhance efficiency.
Yet, balancing such intricate machinery wasn’t a walk in the park. A golden frame is strategically placed to counteract the weight of the tourbillon, maintaining dynamic equilibrium. This ‘magic watch’ is powered by the Cartier Manufacture 9454 MC movement, proudly stamped with the Geneva Seal, signifying its superior craftsmanship.
With a 904L steel case, a 45mm diameter, and a platinum beaded crown set with a cabochon-shaped natural spinel, this watch is an engineering marvel. Its deep grey, electroplated guilloché dial boasts silvered openwork grids and black Roman numeral hour markers, with blue sword-shaped hands enhancing its elegance.
The watch showcases a transparent sapphire crystal case back, has a water resistance of up to 30 meters, and a power reserve of 42 hours. Each watch is uniquely numbered, allowing pre-orders to choose a lucky number. With only 242 components, including 25 jewels, and a balance wheel vibrating at 21,600 times per hour, it’s a testament to Cartier’s dedication to perfection.
So, is the Cartier Double Mystery Tourbillon just a visual trick? Or is it a masterpiece of horological engineering? You decide!
