Cartier ID Program actually bears the forbidden fruit of knowledge: from a one-off concept watch, it intends to reincarnate into the perfect production piece. Would we be banished from our own Eden, if we tried it?
Let there be light. And there was light. This week a new watch was announced by Cartier: the Cartier Astrotourbillon Carbon Crystal Watch. This watch was born from the Cartier ID One Concept Watch which was introduced back in 2009. Concept watches such as Cartier ID One and Cartier ID Two — results of Cartier’s ID Program (Innovation and Development), were never meant to be marketed despite the years of research and all the investment that went into making them. Until now. That the Genesis of this beauty is opening an existent and yet new chapter.
Cartier’s new Astrotourbillon Carbon Crystal watch uses now some of the technological solutions tried and tested in Cartier ID One: the niobium-titanium case, carbon crystal components, and the adjustment-free and lubrication-free pallet and escapement wheel.
On top of this, the Astrotourbillon is also reincarnating the very concept of the tourbillon: a carriage with its axis of rotation at the center of the movement; the off-center balance wheel bridge is designed as an arrow and turns once round the dial every minute, pointing out the seconds.
It will cost you, but it will certainly be worth every extra penny. Coming in 2013.
