We take an in-depth look at the replica Rotonde de Cartier Grande Complication Calibre 9406MC
The latest outlandish complication to emerge from the pen of Cartier Fine Watchmaking’s virtuoso movement designer, Carole Forestier-Kasapi, is a 578-component grand complication combining a perpetual calendar, minute repeater and flying tourbillon.
It is replica Cartier’s most complicated watch in its entire history – outclassing the other grand comp in the Rotonde family, the perpetual calendar tourbillon chronograph which first saw the light of day at SIHH in 2010 (and has a mere 457 parts). Here is what makes it so special:
Click the pics to view full-size – these are definitely worth seeing up close.
Perpetual calendar
Designed to provide for the lag inherent in the Gregorian calendar, which dictates a year of 365.25 days, the Grand Complication’s perpetual calendar requires adjustment once every 100 years.
Skeletonised dial
This requires 10 weeks of decorating and finishing in the atelier above Cartier’s Geneva boutique. Work includes chamfering on the bridges, the drawing on the flanks, the setting of the jewels and the polishing on the countersinks. We’ve picked out a section of the dial that reveals the guiloché finish on the micro rotor beneath, but to be honest we could choose any square centimetre of this fake Cartier watches and it would highlight the fine openworked finishing of Cartier’s artisans.
High-tech tourbillon
The tourbillon boasts a titanium cage whose lightness optimises efficiency and timekeeping. It’s a sign of dedication, as titanium is much harder to machine at these fine tolerances than steel, and enormously difficult to finish to this level.
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Governor
The minute-repeater’s inertia fly-wheel, or “governor”, spins when the chiming mechanism is activated, flinging pivoted arms outwards in order to regulate the rate by friction. Replica Rotonde De Cartier has freed it of its upper bridge, making it truly “fly”.
Gongs
The “ding” and “dong” gongs of the chiming minute repeater (the latter for the hours, the former the minutes, both for the quarters) frame the movement perfectly thanks to their flat profile, with hammers visible at 6 o’clock. The gongs are shown here on the uncased movement, with the wheels for the months and leap years display of the perpetual calendar visible above them, and the governor just visible on the left hand side.
Micro power
The self-winding calibre 9406 has a tiny but highly efficient micro-rotor, which delivers 50 hours of power. The movement is assembled and set in the maison’s Fine Watchmaking workshops in Geneva, qualifying the Cartier replica watches for sale the Poinçon de Genève seal.
Minute cam
Cartier’s watchmakers revisited the interactions of all three classic complications in this cheap Cartier replica watches, allowing them to be easily admired from both sides. Through the caseback, star of the show is the fulcrum of the minute repeater: a ninja-star “snail cam”, felt by a finger to dictate the minutes chimed according to the quarter just passed.
The Essentials
Case: Platinum, 45mm
Movement: Calibre 9406 MC, certified “Poinçon de Geneve”
Frequency: 21,600 vph
Parts: 578, with 47 jewels
Features: Minute repeater, flying tourbillon, perpetual calendar, fine skeletonisation
Power reserve: approx 50 hours
Water resistance: 30m
Strap: Black alligator leather with white gold folding buckle
Price: On application