New York retailed | A yellow gold watch in the form of a double-sided roulette wheel, Circa 1938
Cartier, Paris
New York retailed
A yellow gold watch in the form of a double-sided roulette wheel, Circa 1938
Dial: pink satin finished dial signed Cartier, France, the baton and square numerals cut out to reveal the polished white metal plate mounted beneath, blued steel epée hands
Calibre: 10¼’’’ unsigned Swiss cal. 23-7 movement, damascened Côtes de Genève decoration, lever escapement, bi-metallic compensation balance with timing and poising screws, flat hairspring
Case: 18k yellow gold inner watch case fitted into a roulette wheel outer case with integrated ball bearings, the back with alternating red/black enamel numerals for roulette à la boule indications twice from 1-9, the centre of the case back with broad engine-turned arrow-head for indication, front bezel with roulette Arabic-numeral numbering on white gold roundels alternately filled with red and black enamel, a small pointer engraved to the inner bezel above the crown to indicate the roulette number
Case number: inside case back numbered 8'625 and 1, inner watch bezel numbered 1 beneath crown, case back and inner bezel stamped in losenge-shaped cartouche for Encausse & Krasker and with French eagle’s head assay marks, the outer roulette wheel with French assay marks, numbered to the edge 08'334 & 8'625 and engraved Modèle Déposé, outside case back lightly etch engraved 17'419
Size: 41 mm diameter
Accessories: none
This watch, ingeniously formed as a roulette wheel, exemplifies Cartier’s brilliance in creating unique and exclusive gifts that blend practicality with artistic elegance. By reimagining a working roulette wheel as a pocket watch, Cartier elevated an unconventional object into a symbol of sophistication and luxury. Such a creation would have appealed to the Maison’s discerning clientele, who valued originality and refinement. The roulette wheel’s action is smooth and satisfying, undoubtedly intended as a playful novelty rather than a tool for serious gaming, and it lends itself perfectly to spinning between fingers to relieve stress or aid focus. The case for this unusual novelty watch was produced for Cartier by Encausse and Krasker, a distinguished Parisian watch and case making firm founded in 1910 by Étienne Encausse and Albert Krasker. Based at 32 rue Coquillière in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, the company specialized in crafting high-quality watch cases and was renowned for its collaborations with prestigious jewellers such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, René Boivin, and, as in this instance, Cartier. Their maker’s mark, “EK,” with the letters separated by a pliers symbol and stamped within a lozenge shaped cartouche, is found on this piece. Encausse & Krasker remained active until their closure in 1963, leaving behind a legacy of exceptional craftsmanship that continues to be appreciated by collectors and horology enthusiasts. Incorporating two forms of roulette, the back of the watch is calibrated for roulette à la boule, while the front features a standard roulette format. A similar watch can be found in the Cartier Collection.卡地亞 巴黎 紐約發行 黃金雙面輪盤形錶，約1938 年製
