Visual Description
The Ref. 2308 is a Pasha in 18k white gold, measured at 35 mm by Fellows and Monaco Legend, 35.5 mm by Antiquorum and Sotheby's and 36 mm on one Sotheby's example, about 10 mm thick by Antiquorum's measure. Sotheby's notes a case back secured by eight screws.
The dials carry Arabic numerals at the quarters and a date aperture between 4 and 5 o'clock. Catalogs describe silvered, white, cream and salmon dials, many of them diamond-set. Antiquorum describes a bezel with two rows of round diamonds, a diamond-set center square on a silver guilloché dial and a diamond-set crown cap.
Reference Significance
The 2308 is the white gold Pasha of 35 to 36 mm. The Ref. 1035 is the 35 mm Pasha in 18k yellow gold, and the Ref. 2324 and Ref. 2475 are 35 mm steel Pashas with different date displays.
Historical Context
Antiquorum dates one example, case MG283731, to the 1990s. Sotheby's dates others to circa 2000, the 2000s and circa 2010, and Monaco Legend a boutique edition with a pavé dial to circa 2002. No source found gives the year the reference was introduced or discontinued.
What to Look For
Check that the case back reads 2308 with an MG case number. Diamonds need care: Fellows notes that the diamonds on the dial of one example were not set by Cartier, and another house describes an after-market diamond-set bezel, so ask whether any diamonds were set by Cartier.
Ask for a photograph of the movement: Sotheby's gives the Cal. 049 with 21 jewels, Antiquorum the Cal. 191 with 27 jewels. Check the white gold bracelet for stretch, which Fellows notes on one example.
