Rare French onyx gold mounted jump hour watch Circa 1925

Rare dress watch by Cartier
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A rare French onyx, diamond and enameled gold mounted jump hour dress watch with chain and a mechanical pencil en suite by Cartier, circa 1925. Manual winding lever movement by European Watch and Clock Co. Inc. Guilloché silver dial with Arabic minute ring enclosing aperture to display hour, signed Cartier and blued minute hand. Polished onyx case with band set with rose-cut diamonds, applied gold champlevé enamel bezel, platinum pendant. With chain of enamel links spaced at intervals by seed pearls, signed Cartier, gold telescoping mechanical pencil, signed Cartier, in enameled sleeve.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Signed: Cartier
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Slim dress pocket watches for evening wear were introduced by Cartier during the first decade of the 20th century. The present watch is an iconic design that echoes the hardstone desk clocks made during same period. The onyx case with enameled bezel framing a guilloché dial is found in many examples. However, the present watch is a rare variant with a digital hour display that first appeared in Swiss watches of the early 19th century. The ‘montre guichet’ as it became known, displays the current hour while the single minute hand traces its path around the dial. At the last minute the digital display ‘jumps’ to the next hour giving these rare watches the nickname ‘jump hour’.

Cartier is a French luxury goods conglomerate company which designs, manufactures, distributes, and sells jewellery and watches. Founded in Paris, France, in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier, the company remained under family control until 1964. The company maintains its headquarters in Paris.