Masse Mystérieuse

Skeletonisation and mystery movements are ingrained in Cartier’s watchmaking. This spectacular Masse Mystérieuse not only combines both: it contains them inside the oscillating weight (or “mass”, hence the watch’s name). Eight years in development, this world-first Calibre 9801 MC is the subject of a patent application. Because the entire movement, including the mainspring, the going train and the escapement, is inside the semi-circular, skeletonised rotor, it is not affected by gravity. Hour and minute hands “float” inside the case with no visible connection to the movement. They are in fact linked to the going train by a differential, and therefore keep the correct orientation even as the rotor spins. Cartier is issuing this watch, its most complex to date, as a 30-piece limited edition.