Rotonde de Cartier

Cartier had the wonderful idea of using straw marquetry to create this feline. The subtle gradations of colour in the lion’s mane are captured perfectly by the warm shades and silky brilliance of this unusual material. The stalks of straw with their infinite nuances of colour are individually selected, split, flattened and cut with a marquetry saw. Their six natural tones, ranging from golden to red, combine in a powerful image that is further enhanced by a play of perspectives and creatively cut shapes. Straw is a material that is rarely seen in watchmaking and that Cartier began using two years ago for its delicacy and unique softness.