Very fine French platinum split second chronograph Circa 1922

Platinum open faced lever dress watch
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A very fine French platinum open faced keyless dress watch with split seconds chronograph and 30 minute register made by Cartier in Paris, circa 1922. A solid, plain case. A pusher between 10 and 11 o’clock to operate the split seconds and a button in the crown for the start/stop function of the chronograph. White enamel dial with Arabic hours, outer minute track with Arabic five minute numerals and fifth of a second divisions, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, 30 minute register at 12 and blued steel heavy moon hands. Frosted gilt movement with 23 jewels, a straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, an index regulator and visible steel chronograph work. Signature on the dial and the case is numbered.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Signed: Cartier  Paris
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Accompanied by the original presentation box.
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The present watch is one of only two examples of this model in platinum known to date. Split second chronograph dress watches by Cartier are extremely rare and were made in very small numbers in the early 1920s. The movements were made either by the European Watch & Clock Company Inc. or by Audemars Piguet, who also made another, much later series of such watches for Cartier in the 1950s.