Though Cartier has produced some fine mechanical watches during its 170 year history (such as the perennial favorite, the Louis Cartier), by the 1990s the brand was known primarily as a producer of quartz watches. In an effort to rejuvenate their status as a premier manufacture, in 1998 Cartier launched the Collection Privée Cartier Paris, or CPCP for short. The Collection Privée resurrected classic wristwatch designs from the Cartier archives and utilized high-grade mechanical movements from the likes of Piaget,, and Girard-Perregaux.
Conceived in the 1920s, the Torture featured an entirely different silhouette than that of the more traditional Tank. While their Tank collection grew to include a number of shapes (Française, Louis, Cintrée orBasculante, just to name a few), the Tortue stood out with its sensuous curves that lent themselves well to many different watches — from time-only models to more involved complications.
This example, a Reference 1945, features a 24mm 18K yellow gold tonneau with factory-set diamonds encircling the case hood and a cabochon crown with a diamond inset. The silver dial features a subtle texture finish with Roman indices, a matching blued-steel 'sword' handset and a hidden Cartier signature at 10 o'clock.
Powered by a handy quartz movement, this piece is outfitted with a signed pink alligator leather strap with a 18K yellow gold deployant clasp.
Don't be fooled by its small svelte profile. This piece packs some serious design punch from one of the best design houses on the planet!