Arguably, no jewelry or watch brand evokes more glamour, design innovation, and
noble ties than Cartier. Founded in Paris in 1847, the firm immediately set a high
standard for style and luxury, creating magnificent jewelry for some of the world's most
high-profile clients. This exquisite Retro bracelet watch, produced circa 1937–1943,
has a fascinating lineage. It was conceived in France before Cartier became a fully
integrated watchmaker. They did not, at the time, produce their own watch
movements, so the renowned European Watch and Clock Co. began in the 1920s as a
joint venture between Cartier and Edmund Jaeger of the Jaeger-LeCoultre firm, already
leaders in innovative watch movement manufacturing. Although Cartier continued to
work with other movement manufacturers, many of their top-line items featured EWC
movements, created within the Jaeger-LeCoultre factory in Le Sentier, Switzerland.
Among collectors, these European Watch & Clock Co. movements remain the most
coveted, prized for their originality, exceptional finishing, and direct connection to
Cartier's formative years in watchmaking.
The watch itself is inseparable from the age that produced it. The term "Retro" was
only coined decades later by François Curiel at Christie's, yet it perfectly captures the
visual language born from wartime Europe. As platinum disappeared into military
production, gold became the medium, giving jewellers the freedom to create pieces
that felt richer and bolder. The hard lines of the 1920s softened into heavier links and
rounded forms. This extraordinary bracelet, with its broad articulated links recalling
miniature tank treads, embodies that moment. At 94.5 grams of solid 18-karat yellow
gold, it possesses the unmistakable density of period craftsmanship.
The watches square 20mm case frames a warm gold dial, punctuated by blued steel
hands. Rectangular appliqués at twelve, single baton plots at three, six, and nine, and
the remaining hours indicated by the negative space aligned with 1930s–40s graphic
design. The design is characteristic of Cartier during the 1930s and 1940s, when the
Maison favoured highly graphic, pared-back dials that complemented its increasingly
sculptural cases. Rather than filling the dial with scales and numerals, Cartier often omitted the minute track altogether, using only the essential markers to integrate the
dial seamlessly into the overall design.
Even more exceptional is the survival of its original Cartier presentation box, an
increasingly elusive companion that elevates the watch from a rare object to a
remarkably complete historical survivor. This rare find situates the buyer squarely in
connoisseur territory: a French Cartier jewel animated by the exact Swiss engine
Cartier trusted at the time, preserved as a complete, vanishingly scarce set.
Maker: Cartier
Model: Retro Bracelet Watch
Year: 1937-1943
Material: 18k Yellow Gold
Dial: Gold
Case Measurement: 20mm
Movement: Manual Wind
Condition: Very Good
Weight: 94.5 Grams
Size: Fits Up to 7.5" Wrist
Includes: Original Box
Made in Switzerland
All vintage and pre-owned watches sold by Stephanie Windsor are guaranteed to be genuine and authentic. We also guarantee the proper functioning of your watch’s mechanical movement for one (1) year from the date of purchase. Our warranty does not cover damage resulting from accidents, misuse, neglect, water damage or normal wear and tear. Please note that we do not guarantee waterproofing on vintage or pre-owned timepieces. We therefore do not recommend submerging your timepiece in water or any liquid.
