Cartier

The Cartier name has been linked to wristwatches since the earliest days of the 20th Century, and the Cartier Tonneau is one of their earliest designs. Introduced in 1906, the Tonneau was named for its barrel shape, widest in the middle and tapered towards the lugs. It was the first watch born of the partnership between Louis Cartier and Edmond Jaeger for their European Watch & Clock Co. The elegant design captured the zeitgeist of the era, and by the 1920s and 30s, it was found on the wrists of prominent celebrities and royalty alike. One such celebrity of the era was Al Jolson, who was regarded in his time as “The World’s Greatest Entertainer” after starring in the first talking picture, The Jazz Singer, in 1927. Interestingly, Mr. Jolson gifted the present Cartier to Dr. Leo Winter, his dentist. Dr. Winter was known as both a ‘Dentist to the Stars’ and was frequently spotted at hotspots like The Beverly Hills Hotel alongside his celebrity clientele. A published author on oral surgery, Dr. Leo Winter gifted the watch to his son, Leo Winter Jr. The watch is accompanied by a Dunhill valet case with ‘Leo’ emblazoned in gold on its lid, as well as a lighter from the Korean War with ‘Leo Winter Jr.’ engraved into its lid. An undated Hollywood headshot of Al Jolson is inscribed to Leo Jr. saying ‘I hope my boy grows up to be like you’ and signed by the actor.

Provenance aside, the watch is incredibly well-preserved, its hallmarks intact, and its original domed crystal and dial. A uniquely preserved early Cartier with a dash of Hollywood provenance.