Watch Watching: Cartier Central Chronograph

Front & Center: Introducing the New Face of the Chronograph
The chronograph has not received a major overhaul since Breitling introduced the first and second independent push piece back in the early 1920’s.  Today, Cartier has gone above and beyond to create a very unique and easy to read chronograph, called the Rotonde de Cartier Central Chronograph.  This is an addition to Cartier’s Fine Watch Making Line and is produced entirely in-house.

The first thing you will notice about the Rotonde de Cartier Central Chronograph is that there are not the usual sub-dials that are indicative of a chronograph. Instead, you will notice an innovative double tier display that aids in the watches’ legibility.  The bottom display has wide, blued steel hands (but only the tips are visible) that show the current hour and minute.  The higher level is reserved for the chronograph. When engaged, the slim chrono seconds hand begins to sweep, and the elapsed minutes are shown on a rotating disc.

The Cartier 9907 MC is a manual winding movement with 35 jewels and a 50 hour power reserve. A wonderful addition to this piece is the use of a column wheel to control the start, stop, and reset functions, instead of the typical cam system that is seen in most chronographs.  The column wheel allows for a smoother, faster transition when starting and stopping the chronograph.

Carol Forestier-Kasapi is Cartier’s director of movement development and is the brains behind the revolutionary movements in Cartier’s collection.  “The main philosophy is to be creative rather than complex” says Forestier “Technique is at the service of aesthetics and creativity.  Our goal is not to be the most complex or have the most complicated watches in the world. The main thing is that the creativity is a tool to be technical.”