Watch Type

I feel kind of silly asking, but I really don't know the answer. What type of watch is this and how was it worn? It's an antique Cartier and has a button attached. Thank you for any information! Lisa

 

Pendant or lapel watch. Hard to know if the leather button and braid (like a fob, buttons into a button hole) is original or a later addition. Made of Lucite/Acrylic. Looks Art Deco in styling. Can't find another one like it (after a quick Google search). I have a few acrylic set watches in my jewelry collection... Not a single Cartier though. LOL Nifty!

Best to take it to a good jeweler who is a high end watch seller who can tell you when it was made and if it's original to the case. I'll try to check some of my books for you too.

Is it running? Is the back of the case glass (or clear plastic) so you can see the workings? It's not a really clear picture.

 

Wow! You are a wealth of knowledge ;-) Unfortunately there was scotch tape on the back that has left a residue making it cloudy and hard to see through the back. I used a loop to get these 2 pictures. Thank you!

 

Any idea why there was tape on it (is the back case loose?)?

It says (?) M150 Limited (?)

See if you have a bit of Goo Gone, or rubbing alcohol to get the goo off and take another close up of the back works? That may help with the identification?

 

I don't know anything about Cartier watches, but do know that a signed "Cartier" ring I inherited is a fake. So unfortunately it's possible the watch isn't the real deal. Hope not, though!

 

I don't find that Mido had anything to do with Cartier

 

I know zip about watches, but here's another Mido movement with Cartier dial. ???

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?campid=5337485078&toolid=10001&mpre=http://www.ebay.com/itm/Art-Deco-Mi...-Lady-s-Watch-with-Cartier-Dial-/111299471790

 

Where's Af?

 

I don't know anything about watches either, other than I like them, LOL.

Ah, okay says Mido! LOL jeeze! I couldn't read it. Hmmm.

This "Cartier" ended auction is a similar pendant/fob set style, also has a Mido movement... brought some dollars. Watch looks the same. *more hmmm*
CARTIER-ART-DECO-PENDANT-WATCH-BANDED-AGATE-RARE-AUTHENTIC

found this also:
The Mido Watch company that was founded in 1918 started out as a sort of novelty or designer brand, making art-deco styled watches with coloured enamelled shaped cases, departing from the strictly functional appearance of a watch, making watches that could be worn as much as accessories as timepieces. In the 1930s they made some watches in the shape of radiator grills of well know brands of motor cars such as Bugatti, Buick, Excelsior, Peugeot, and Chevrolet.
And:
In the early 1920s, Cartier formed a joint company with Edward Jaeger (of Jaeger-LeCoultre) to produce movements solely for Cartier. Thus was the European watch and clock company born, although Cartier continued to use movements from other makers. Cartier watches can be found with movements from Vacheron Constantin,Audemars Piguet, Movado and LeCoultre. It was also during this period that Cartier began adding its own reference numbers to the watches it sold, usually by stamping a four-digit code on the underside of a lug.

Hopefully someone with watch experience can come in.

 

FlyingButtonRanch, thanks for the suggestion of using rubbing alcohol. I had tried GooGone before but it did nothing. I used the alcohol last night and it is slowly removing the tape residue. I was able to determine some more stamps on the inside of the watch. Here is what I've found: "MIDO LIMITED" "FIFTEEN 15 JEWELS", "RSE", "AF". There is also some letters that I can't make out; looks like it starts with "UNAD" OR "UNAP" with more letters but are hidden underneath some piece.
After looking at your link and above information I believe I can guess what the stamps are. That ebay piece seems to have the same stamps. If I can figure out how to carefully remove the back I could probably clean it better and get a better reading of the stamps. Thanks for everyone's help!

 

After very close looking, I also found some numbers in the gold part on the back. It's very hard to read and I couldn't get a good picture. The best I can make of it is that it MIGHT be "07202". I'm thinking this just might be jewelry repair/service date? Or is this a manufacture number of some sort?Thanks!

 

Probably service code. I went to look to make sure, and I found this at Watch & Clock Collector's forums:

Most watchmakers had their own coding system as to what repairs they had done and when. Without the watchmakers ledgers, you will never know the significance of most markings.

There isn't a metal back to put it on, so it's on the outer ring.

Maybe go to the WCC site, and post about the watch and they can give you some more info? You'll have to register and log in to post and do searches.
http://mb.nawcc.org/

Or the Cartier sub forum at WatchSeek:
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f481/

p.s. I think it's a really cool watch Lisa!!

 

I hope that afantiques also looks in on this thread and shares some thoughts. He has to come out of that shed some time!

FBR, it's interesting what you found about Mido. It would be great to find something specific about a Mido / Cartier connection.

I found this page about Mido which gives a lot of information about their history but does not mention Cartier. I think this is where you got the quote, FBR? : http://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/mido.php

(Some of you know that I'm a librarian and like to know the actual sources of information.)

Fig

 

Whoops, sorry Fig... yup, that was the page. I usually try to include links. It was early in the a.m., and I hadn't had that 2nd cuppa yet...