Cartier Caliber 045MC Tortue Mono Poussoir

Cartier Caliber 045MC

Cartier Caliber 045MC Tortue Mono Poussoir

BrandCartier
Caliber Number045 MC, 045MC
Manufacturer
THA (see below)
Movement Type
Mechanical, manual-wind
In-House?
No
Diameter25.6mm
Height
3.8mm
Vibrations Per Hour21,600 bph, 3Hz
Lift Angle
Unconfirmed
Power Reserve40 hours (chrono off), 34 hours (chrono on)
Jewels22
FunctionsCentral hours; central minutes; central chronograph seconds; small seconds at 9:00; 30 minute counter at 3:00
Country of ManufactureSwitzerland, Swiss made
Known Models
Cartier Tortue Mono Poussoir 2714, Cartier Mono Poussoir 2396, Cartier Tank Mono Poussoir 2846

The Cartier caliber 045 MC is a mechanical single-pusher chronograph movement with 22 jewels. This movement was launched in 1998. The caliber number is also written as 045MC.

Single-Pusher Chronograph:

Monopoussoir is French for “single pusher”. A traditional chronograph movement has two pushers: one to start and stop the chronograph seconds hand, and one to reset the hand to zero. The caliber 045MC has a single pusher complication that handles all three tasks of starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph. Furthermore, the 045MC does not have an additional pusher, rather the pusher is integrated into the crown. It is complicated, yet minimalist.

THA Èbauche:

The 045MC was produced for Cartier by THA (Techniques Horlogères Appliquées), a movement house that was started in 1996 by François-Paul Journe (F.P.Journe), Vianney Halter, Denis Flageollet (co-founded De Bethune).

Watches with this caliber:

The movement pictured above was found in a Tortue Privee Monopoussoir Chronograph model 2714. This piece was part of the Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP) line which was released to pay tribute to mechanical Cartier watches of the past. From around 1999 to 2008, Cartier produced watches containing movements made by workshops such as THA mentioned above.

While the caliber number “045MC” is exclusive to Cartier, the movement itself is not. The De Bethune Monopoussoir DB1 also uses a caliber which is based on the same framework as the 045MC. If you happen to know of any other watches using this movement, please add them to the comments below.

Caliber Commentary:

In an article by GEO at Revolution Magazine (“A Case Of A Different Shape; Tortue de Cartier” which has since been removed from their site) he says the following:

“The calibre 045MC also has the special feature of a clutch system with a swivel pin. Which in fact means, that the transmission of the movement of the second wheel of the base movement to the chronograph’s central wheel, is effected through a double swivel pin. The advantage of this clutch, is that it suppresses the skip of he [sic] hand at the beginning of a translation movement, which is found with the mechanisms of chronographs with a lateral clutch.”

SJX mentions the clutch system in this post:

“Note the emphasis on the clutch system of the cal. 045MC, which eliminates the annoying seconds hand jump found in many chronographs.”

Additional Resources:

Seagull Caliber St19

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