Cartier, Paris

Cartier, Paris

New York retailed

A most unusual and extremely rare yellow gold lady’s evening purse containing an 8-day watch, Circa 1963-64

Dial: silvered dial signed Cartier, 8 Jours, golden batons at the quarters and blue batons at the intervening hours, tapered hands

Calibre: 13½’’’ Felsa calibre 4100 8-day going movement signed Cartier, grained decoration, lever escapement, 17 jewels, annular balance with poising screws, flat hairspring, Incabloc shock absorber

Case: 18k yellow gold woven purse, wave patterned gold frame with snap-lock clasp, fitted internally with a short chain securing the gold circular watch case with chamfered bezel, watch case back with circular satin finish, flat notched winding crown, inside watch case back stamped for Cristofol, clasp with French eagle’s head assay marks

Case number: New York Subsidiary Stock No. 016'517

Size: 50 mm length x 44 mm width; watch diameter 33 mm

Accessories: Cartier presentation box and travelling pouch

This extraordinary Cartier timepiece is a testament to haute joaillerie at its most opulent. Designed as a lady’s evening purse, it is exquisitely woven in 18k gold, radiating glamour and luxury. The watch is concealed within the purse, an ingenious flourish that transforms this accessory into a striking symbol of extravagance. The woven gold mesh recalls the lavish chainmail evening bags of the Art Deco era, evoking their shimmering allure and intricate craftsmanship. The undulating lines of the purse’s frame echo the elegance of 1920s and 1930s design, while the clean simplicity of the watch dial reflects the refined modernity of the 1960s.

This juxtaposition of past and present within the design highlights Cartier’s unrivalled ability to reinterpret iconic motifs with contemporary sophistication. Far from being practical, this piece is unapologetically ostentatious, designed to dazzle and captivate. Its purpose lies in sheer indulgence—a showcase of artistry and a statement of prestige. The gold purse, too small to serve any purpose beyond housing its concealed treasure, reflects a niche world of 1960s luxury where exclusivity and individuality reigned supreme. At a time when modernist design and practicality were on the rise, creations like this stood apart as extravagant symbols of personal expression, crafted for those who sought the exceptional and the rare. The gold bag and its watch case were made for Cartier by Cristofol, one of Paris’s oldest and most esteemed haute joaillerie workshops, founded in 1830. Renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and collaborations with prestigious jewellery houses worldwide, Cristofol’s expertise is evident in the flawless execution of this piece. The firm’s maker’s mark, consisting of the letters C and F separated by a bishop’s mitre, is stamped on this creation and was registered in 1960 when Cristofol’s workshops were located at 52 rue Lafayette in Paris’s 9th arrondissement.