Phillips’ “Watches of Prestige – Hong Kong XX” Auction will be held from May 23 to 25 in Hong Kong, with a special evening sale kicking off on May 23. Among the 16 exceptional timepieces featured, a highlight is a series of museum-quality Cartier Art Deco mantel clocks from a single distinguished collector. Three of these clocks were auctioned earlier this month in Geneva, including the unique “Portico No. 3” mystery clock which sold for over CHF 3.93 million, setting a new world auction record for Cartier timepieces. This sale draws particular attention as one of the clocks was once part of a royal collection.
This unique Cartier mantel clock, crafted in 1925, exemplifies the exquisite artistry and elegance of the Art Deco period. Inspired by traditional Chinese palace lanterns, its semi-translucent jade emits a mystical glow when illuminated. Coral-carved floral motifs, a mother-of-pearl dial with dual pearl insets, Chinese numeral hour markers, and dragon-shaped hands all evoke regal imagery. Indeed, the clock boasts royal provenance, having been a wedding gift for Princess Fawzia of Egypt and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran, in 1939.
Among the auction pieces is a museum-grade mystery clock standing 215mm tall, adorned with intricately carved coral dragons and a “Pixiu” — a mythological hybrid beast symbolizing authority and good fortune. The octagonal dial features a mother-of-pearl chapter ring decorated with black lacquer auspicious cloud patterns, complemented by diamond-set dragon-wing hands. This piece bears French markings and is equipped with the original European clockworks, having not appeared on the market for over 30 years.
Another standout from 1925 is a unique red amber and black enamel mantel clock that masterfully blends Eastern motifs with Cartier’s Art Deco style. Made from rare Burmese red amber, black enamel, and carved jade, the central jade dial is intricately engraved with the traditional lucky motif of a monkey presenting longevity blessings. Surrounding the dial, red amber bracelets are carved with qilin mythical creatures symbolizing prosperity and peace. The dial is decorated with rose-cut diamond hands and gold Roman numeral hour markers, representing the pinnacle of Cartier’s creative achievements.
