Cartier

• manual winding nickel lever movement, 18 jewels, bi-metallic compensation balance, precision regulator, eight adjustments • silvered guilloché dial, enamel indexes in Masonic cypher reading 'George M. Cohan', blued steel Breguet hands • 18k yellow gold slim circular case with transluscent green enamel bezel bordered by white enamel ring, the back with transluscent green guilloché enamel in undulating circles radiating from a central floret, with similar white enamel border • case, dial and movement signed, case and pendant further hand-stamped with Cartier numbers

The movement is running, however it may require service soon. The dial has aged to a medium silvery gray and parts of the signature and indexes have been rubbed off, most likely during a cleaning of the dial. Both the signature and indexes are in hard enamel. The case is ultra-thin and the band comes to a sharp point. The green enamel is lovely and bears surface scuffs throughout. On the dial side, there is a very small point on the green enamel at 12 o'clock that appears to have some crystal glue on the surface and there is also a small crack to the white and green enamel at 1 o'clock.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

Together with a letter from Agnes Cohan presenting the watch to Gene Buck from the George M. Cohan Estate in March 1943.

George M. Cohan
George M. Cohan was one of America's greatest entertainers, lyricists and songwriters of the first half of the 20th century. He is sometimes known as 'the man who owned Broadway' for his work on musicals and on Tin Pan Alley.

Among his most famous songs are, 'Give My Regards to Broadway', 'Yankee Doodle Boy', 'You're a Grand Old Flag' and 'Over There.'

After his death in November 1942, his widow, Agnes Cohan, gave this watch to his friend Gene Buck as a token of their 'great friendship'.

The present lot features the so-called 'Pigpen' cipher, a coded alphabet used by the Freemasons in correspondence. This substitution cipher puts the letters of the alphabet into a grid and replaces them with the corresponding geometric shape taken from that grid. Cohan, a Mason, most likely commissioned or customized the watch as a special order or possibly received it as a gift.

For a similar watch with transluscent blue enamel decoration, see Barracca, J., Negretti, G., & Nencini, F., Le Temps de Cartier, p. 27.