Horological Meandering - The SIHH 2012 PuristsPro Live Report

The SIHH 2012 PuristsPro Live Report - Cartier

Jan 18, 2012,18:04 PM

The 2012 SIHH PuristSPro Live Report

- Jon Z. (Z3)

Day 1 - Cartier

This year Cartier has refocused on the Tank line and introduced the "Tank Anglaise", adding to the Tank family consisted of classic designs such as the original Louis Cartier Tank, the Tank Francaise, the Tank Americaine, the Tank Divan, etc...

The mesemerizing artistic pieces (always a treat for the eyes at Cartier!) feature techniques such as straw marquetry, enamel grisaille, and gemstone mosiac.

The haute horlogerie domain feature pieces such as the Rotonde Cadran Love Tourbillon, the Rotonde Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillon, and the Rotonde Annual Calendar (due to time constraint at the press conference, I was not able to take live photos of these).

The rectangular shaped Tank Anglaise, which comes in three sizes, in three metals (white gold, pink gold, and steel), features a two-piece crown design where instead of pulling out the crown in one piece when setting time, the smaller center piece of the crown is pulled out. The time is then set by turning the larger crown rim.

The three sizes

Display back of the automatic movement model.

Wrist shot - a slightly curved comfortable watch to wear - typical of Cartier Tanks

Versions with diamonds

Louis Tank XL Slimline in pink gold and white gold, a very elegant yet reasonably large mechanical winding dress watch (Calibre 430 MC ) sized at 40.4mm by 35mm, and only 5mm thick - a classic Cartier re-invigorated.

The Artistic pieces.

The koala motif, featuring straw marquetry technique

The tiger motif with enamel grisaille

The cockatoo with engraved mother of pearl and champleve enamel

The horse motif with gemstone mosaic - a mind-boggling painstaking process where each little gemstone is set by hand.

Some additional eye candies for your viewing pleasure. Checking out the 3-dimensional ladybugs.

2012 is the year of the Dragon in Chinese lunar calendar, so it is no surprise that many brands are embarking on this opportunity.

Hope you have enjoyed the report.

Yours Truly,

Jon Z. (Z3)

More posts: Ballon BleuFlying TourbillonRotondeTankTank AmericaineTank AnglaiseTank DivanTank Francaise

Comments: view entire thread

The SIHH 2012 PuristsPro Live Report - Day 1

By: Z3 : January 18th, 2012-17:20

The 2012 SIHH PuristSPro Live Report - Jon Z. (Z3) Dear fellow Purists, Again comes the refreshingly chilling Geneva January and the venerable watch show SIHH. As somebody who has done it in the past years, it is my utmost honor to report to you, once aga...

The SIHH 2012 PuristsPro Live Report - Cartier

By: Z3 : January 18th, 2012-18:04

HTML clipboard The 2012 SIHH PuristSPro Live Report - Jon Z. (Z3) Day 1 - Cartier This year Cartier has refocused on the Tank line and introduced the "Tank Anglaise", adding to the Tank family consisted of classic designs such as the original Louis Cartie...

Thanks for taking the time to share the highlights....

By: David Elliott : January 18th, 2012-18:58

It's the next best thing to being there. I look forward to your reports. Dave

Hi Dave, thanks for your kind words [nt]

By: Z3 : January 24th, 2012-09:01

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The SIHH 2012 PuristsPro Live Report - Audemars Piguet

By: Z3 : January 18th, 2012-19:07

The 2012 SIHH PuristSPro Live Report - Jon Z. (Z3) Day 1 - Audemars Piguet For the Royal Oak lovers, this year is an exciting year. Exactly 40 years ago, the original Royal Oak design was conceived by Mr. Gerald Genta as the first steel luxury sport watch...

Thank you for the AP report Jon!

By: patrick_y : January 18th, 2012-21:16

40 years of practical steel luxury. Congratulations and happy anniversary to the Royal Oak!

The original Jumbo look so yummy!

By: KIH : January 23rd, 2012-17:11

Got to get me one of these one day! Now that the original dial with AP logo on 6 came out, I will no longer chase 5402ST . Wow, well done AP! 39mm is very nice. Ken

It's nice but the chase for the historical piece is still fun =)

By: Z3 : January 24th, 2012-09:03

I am a fan of the skeleton jumbo.

Thank you for great report!

By: Albert.J : January 18th, 2012-22:38

Dragon rotor is... it's just surprising. and i love all the RO models. thank you for sharing nice pics!

You sum it up perfectly...

By: MichaelC : January 19th, 2012-06:08

A return to tradition and a break from the glitter... I have been quite impressed with AP's offerings year after year. This year offers additional refinements to the collections and in the end allows customers, new and old, quite a bit of assortment to ch...

Yes, for this year's novelties, AP's prices are still "within reach"

By: Z3 : January 24th, 2012-09:04

I hope they keep it that way for a while...

Platinum OS is nice

By: Mostel : January 19th, 2012-08:17

Great looking watch. For whatever reason, everything else, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

=) [nt]

By: Z3 : January 24th, 2012-09:05

No message body

Great overall review and visit, thanks a lot Jon ! [nt]

By: Mark in Paris : January 19th, 2012-08:28

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Great posts! Thank you! [nt]

By: mcio2 : January 19th, 2012-09:54

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Nice job Jon, thank you! (nt)

By: ei8htohms : January 19th, 2012-10:35

Thanks John, glad that you like it. [nt]

By: Z3 : January 24th, 2012-09:05

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Love the AP live report!

By: ocwatching : January 19th, 2012-11:23

the in the metal photos are just spectacular! Love the new Jumbo re-issue... I need to try on the 41mm 15400 to see how it fits...what did you think of the larger proportions? Thank you for the excellent reporting Jon!