Haute Time

by Diana Jarrett GG RMV

Many are the Millennials who eschew wristwatch wearing altogether today. The reason being is that their hand held device tells time and so much more in one super compact package. And who in this day is without their iPhone?

There was an era, albeit a couple hundred years ago when having personal access to the time was a luxury reserved for the very rich. Even one hundred years ago the notion of having a personal time-telling device was still the domain of the deep pockets and aristocracy.

CARTIER MYSTERY CLOCK C. 1925; ROCK CRYSTAL, ENAMEL,
GEMSTONE AND DIAMOND. COURTESY: SOTHEBY’S GENEVA

The venerable house of Cartier began making luxury table clocks with rare jewels by the finest craftsman of the day. They became instant collectibles by European royalty and American industrial magnates who embarked on Grand Tours of Europe as they were called.

One of the most celebrated such clocks were Cartier’s Mystery Clocks featuring rock crystal quartz dials and diamond studded hands and no visible mechanism to make them function. Other wildly popular clocks were designed with Egyptian or Chinese motifs which were all the rage during the Art Deco period.

ART DECO ERA EGYPTIAN STRIKING CLOCK. COURTESY: CARTIER (C)

While no one knows exactly how many of these century old clocks survived, they occasionally turn up at auction; some fetching nearly $900,000. Treat yourself to an up-close preview of similar rarities by visiting our Naples area auction houses.

With regards to such stylish early decor, they really don’t make ‘em like they used to.

Contact Diana Jarrett at diana@dianajarrett.com and read color-n-ice.blogspot.com.