The Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir ref. 2396, created within the Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP), represents one of the most serious and academically important chronographs Cartier has ever produced. It is a watch conceived not for trends, but for collectors who value historical correctness, mechanical integrity, and absolute design coherence.

The Tortue case, originally introduced by Cartier in 1912, is rendered here in 18k white gold with beautifully flowing, organic curves that sit low and naturally on the wrist. Its proportions are deliberate and understated, allowing the complication to remain the focal point. True to early chronograph tradition, the watch features a single pusher integrated into the crown, preserving the purity and symmetry of the case while underscoring the classical nature of the monopoussoir layout.

Powering the ref. 2396 is the manually wound THA calibre based on Lemania 2310, developed by Techniques Horlogères Appliquées (THA), the celebrated movement atelier founded by François-Paul Journe, Denis Flageollet, and Vianney Halter. Widely regarded as one of the coolest chronograph architectures ever created, this movement is finished to the highest CPCP standards, with sharp anglage, refined steelwork, and a layout that reflects classical chronograph construction at its absolute best.

The dial is a dynamic study in balance and funk. Executed with an oversized Roman 12, Art-deco minute track and decorations in the corners, and blued steel Breguet hands, it remains highly legible despite the complexity of the complication. The twin-register layout is perfectly proportioned, and subtle details such as the typography and scale spacing reveal the extraordinary care taken during the CPCP era, when Cartier placed horological substance above all else.

Produced in very limited numbers, the Cartier Tortue Monopoussoir 2396 CPCP occupies a rarefied position in neo-vintage watchmaking. It unites one of the greatest chronograph movements made with an iconic early-20th-century design and a splash of audicity, all executed during a brief period when Cartier created watches first and foremost for connoisseurs. This landmark chronograph -and one of the most collectible expressions of the CPCP legacy- remains in excellent condition and comes with its original Cartier folding clasp.