A stainless steel and vitreous enamel ball point pen with tonneau shape watch mounted to the end. This very beautifully executed pen was created with Cartier's heritage very much at the fore. It harks back to "peak Cartier" during the 1920's and '30's when objects of desire, such as this, were being continually created by the luxury atelier.
The main body of the pen has a feathered style guilloche pattern engraved into it. This is then covered with a sumptuous baby pink virtuous enamel. This creates a magical and hardy surface over the pattern that allows light to pass over it. This engraved detail into the metal plays with the light. It is quite captivating. Designs and patterns such as this were very popular with Cartier during the early part of the 20th Century, as it carried on the magnificent work that leading houses, such as Fabergé, pioneered before them.
At the top of the pen is a tonneau shaped Cartier watch. It is made to be easily lifted from the pen to replace the biro, when needed. It is also by twisting the watch that the ball point nib appears from the end of the pen, being retracted by twisting in the opposite direction. The movement inside is a quartz, meaning that there is no constant need to wind it, or keep it in motion to power an automatic power reserve. Four small screws hold on the back plate which is where the battery can be changed, when required. This back area, currently blank, can also be used to apply a message or personalisation, if so desired.
The dial is everything one comes to love about Cartier; it has a special mother of pearl dial, black Roman numerals with framed minute track, blue steeled hands and the discreet "hidden" signature. This time located at the ten o'clock position. The dial is signed "Swiss" in the customary position, below the six o'clock marker. Another iconic and beautiful feature to the watch is the large, set onyx set into the crown, which unlike its watch counterpart, is set into the top of the case above twelve o'clock.
The pen is signed "Cartier" to the top part of the steel above the enamel. It is interesting to note it was produced in a limited edition run of two thousand pieces. Each of which is uniquely numbered. It is presented in perfect working condition, along with its original, burgundy leather, stamped "Carter Paris" pouch. Made in the early 2000's, items such as these are now coming into their own as they approach vintage status, and are being harder to track down.
