In the early 1970s, Cartier unveiled the Ellipse, a horological marvel nestled within the esteemed "Louis Cartier Collection" featuring twelve distinctive "shaped" watches. Among its esteemed companions—the Ceinture, Cristallor, Gondollo, and Stepped Tank—the Ellipse emerged as a timeless embodiment of aesthetic grace, with roots tracing back to Euclid's discovery of the Golden Section.
Renamed by the Renaissance mathematician Luca Pacioli as "De Divina Proportione," this enduring principle dictates the sublime ratio of 1 to 1.6181, defining the precise point at which to gracefully divide a line into two unequal yet harmonious lengths.
Embodying this mathematical poetry, the Cartier Golden Ellipse boasts a captivating double-stepped bezel, powered by the manual wind 2412 caliber. This specific example we have on offer is the SM-sized Ellipse, tailored for the discerning women of its era. With dimensions measuring 26mm x 23mm and just 7mm thick, the case of this Ellipse is crafted from 18k yellow gold.
In the realm of watchmaking, Cartier earns its moniker as the "master of shapes" through exemplary creations like the Ellipse. The maison's unparalleled artistry thrives on the ability to sculpt refreshingly unique designs that defy the conventions of their time.
This Cartier Ellipse in yellow gold is in overall excellent vintage condition. The oval double stepped case is strong and retains its beautiful lines. For a Cartier from this era, the case is in excellent condition. The dial is the original Paris signed white lacquered dial which is very rare given most dials get replaced by Cartier during servicing to a "Swiss only" dial. The vast majority of Cartier white lacquered dials produced in the 70's have cracks but this example has not formed any cracks. Furthermore, the dial has no blemishes or discoloration. The original black painted numerals is in beautiful condition as well. The caliber 2412 movement has been serviced recently by our watchmaker in November 2023 and is currently running well at +11.4 seconds per day. The watch comes with a generic brown leather strap. The watch also comes with its original Cartier 18k gold pin buckle which is very rare and valuable in itself. The watch also comes with a Cartier box.
