Cartier unveiled this high-end Clé series timepiece, the Clé de Cartier Mysterious Hour, at the 2015 Watches & Wonders. It brings the iconic “mysterious hands” complication into a new case design, powered by the Caliber 9981 MC movement introduced in 2013.
The Mysterious Hour mechanism originates from Cartier’s early 20th-century mystery clocks. Simply put, the hour and minute hands are mounted on two ultra-thin sapphire crystal discs, which rotate via the movement, creating the illusion that the hands float in mid-air.
The dial is partially skeletonized, allowing a view of the movement’s finely decorated bridges. Hour markers are classic Roman numerals, and the 3 o’clock Cartier logo visually extends to the sapphire cabochon on the crown.
Through the sapphire crystal caseback, the full operation of the Caliber 9981 MC can be observed. The movement consists of 158 components with a thickness of just 4.61mm. The sapphire crystals for the mysterious hands occupy significant space and consume extra energy, limiting the power reserve to 48 hours.
This model comes in a platinum case, with a rose gold version also available.
Cartier Clé de Cartier Mysterious Hour Watch
Rose gold / Platinum case, 41mm diameter, 11.25mm thickness, sapphire crystal front and back, skeletonized dial, Caliber 9981 MC manual-winding movement, 28,800 vph, 48-hour power reserve, alligator strap, rose gold / platinum buckle, water-resistant to 30 meters.
