2661, Tortue Monopoussoir, CPCP, Pink Gold

This is the Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP) collection Tortue Monopoussoir, the first iteration of the Tortue Monopoussoir since production of the original ceased in the 1940s and the first in pink gold. The Tortue case was first made in 1912, only second oldest to the Santos and five years prior to the Tank. Since then, Tortue (meaning Tortoise in French) releases have been far and few between in all variants, never in the main catalogue. 

The Tortue Monopoussoir builds on a legacy that began 1928, when the first Cartier wristwatch chronograph was made in a Tortue case. By 1929, there were at least eight known Tortue Monopoussoirs. As the watch world recovered from the quartz crisis, Cartier took notice. In 1998 they released the CPCP line, a callback to the ‘Golden Era’ of Cartier when quality cases, dials, and groundbreaking designs were the calling cards of the brand, in order to capture a renewed interest in fine mechanical watchmaking. Cartier partnered with Techniques Horlogères Appliquées (THA) to provide calibres for many of the watches within the CPCP line.THA, a collaborative movement workshop created by Denis Flageollet, Vianney Halter and FP Journe, sought to provide high quality  complicated calibres to established brands while allowing an independent watchmaking environment with less risk related to full independence. It is rumored that the addition of the Monopoussoir to the CPCP line was initially suggested by THA. Journe and Flageollet saw opportunity in updating the historic Tortue Monopoussoir with a technically improved and beautifully finished calibre. They chose an oscillating pinion design, seen as a technically superior solution by both Flageollet and Journe for its reduction of load on the going train and elimination of the seconds hand ‘jump’ upon actuation. The resulting manual calibre 045MC is not only beautifully hand finished with engraved Cartier motif, but shares the use of an oscillating pinion with the chronograph offerings from both Flagiollet and Journe.   

The Tortue Monopoussoir CPCP was released in 1999 in both yellow and white gold. Their silver guilloché dials featured circular minute tracks and breguet handset, referencing the design of the original 1920s examples, and a sole roman numeral at 12. Its case was slightly larger than the original at 34 x 43mm. Released one year later in 2000, the 2661 brought the first pink gold Monopoussoir CPCP and a more contemporary dial configuration with case-shaped chemin de fer track and full roman numerals. It is worth noting that of the 8 known original Monopoussoir examples, none exist in pink gold. The 2661 is therefore likely the first ever pink gold Monopoussoir. While exact production numbers are unknown, pink gold appears to come to market much less frequently than examples in yellow or white gold. 

Cartier was born of a love for design, craftsmanship, and artistry. While the brand may have lost its way during its awkward restructuring years, these characteristics are now easily recognizable within the CPCP line. The CPCP Monopoussoir not only reintroduced the historic Tortue case but also complicated mechanical watchmaking and handcraft. The watch is a junction between a historic and massively influential brand and some of the greatest independent watchmakers of the era, here in a rare pink gold expression. 

This 2661 presents in great overall condition. The silver guilloché dial shows only light patina near the 20 of the running seconds subdial. There is uniform light scratching on the pink gold case, which presents original and sharp geometry. Hallmarks are well defined and deep. The

This example is modelled on an average-sized 7-inch wrist.