Cartier Table alarm

Cartier's table clocks belong to a quieter tradition within the maison, the desk objects that lived alongside the wristwatches in Parisian apartments and gentlemen's studies through the second half of the twentieth century. The alarm models in particular show Cartier's commitment to small mechanical instruments at a moment when most of the industry had turned to electricity and battery cells. This is a fully manual piece, wound and set by hand, made to sit on a writing desk and do real work.

This example is built around a white dial with painted Roman numerals and matching hands, framed by a striking red lacquer surround that gives the clock its unmistakable Cartier character. The gold-plated case rests on small gilt feet, and the case back carries the Cartier engravings identifying the piece. The manual movement is wound from the back, with a separate alarm train governing the strike. It is a small, complete object in the maison's idiom, recognisable at a glance.

The clock shows honest traces of decades on a desk. The inner bezel ring around the dial has gold plating loss and some chipping, the red lacquer surround shows scratches consistent with use, and the brass case back has developed a tarnished patina. The gold-plated feet show minor surface marks. The original Cartier box is included.