In this watch, the eagle-eyed will spot Cartier’s confessed love of shape and volume, and also, the tourbillon at 9 o’clock. While the watch is Cartier through-and-through as far as style is concerned, the lack of the trademark ‘C’ on the carriage and the bridge indicates that calibre 9438 MC is the handiwork of the masters at Renaud & Papi.

The horological hothouse has served Cartier well in the past with a grand complication or two and indeed, Cartier watchmaker-in-chief Carole Forestier-Kasapi herself once worked there. Of course, an 8-day power reserve paired with the energy-hungry tourbillon and chronograph is no small matter.

This aside, it is remarkable that calibre 9438 MC is making an appearance finally in the Rotonde shape, the go-to style for high complications in Cartier Fine Watchmaking. Cartier has used this movement before, notably in the Pasha range and leads one to think the finish will be lovely, if quite different from Cartier’s own more contemporary aesthetic. In its current form, Rotonde de Cartier Tourbillon Chronograph is available in 18K pink gold, in a 45mm case (price on application) limited to 50 numbered pieces.