Only Online Auction
Milan, Apr 17, 2025
LOT 28
CARTIER, SWITZERLAND, CRASH YELLOW GOLD AND DIAMOND SET
EUR 100,000 - 300,000
CHF 96,000 - 286,000 / HKD 860,000 - 2,570,000 / USD 110,000 - 330,000
Sold: EUR 252,000
An a very fine and extremely rare, 18k yellow gold and diamonds set manual winding vertical asymmetrical wristwatch with ‘cartier paris’ signature dial, roman numerals and blue hands.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 2-8 |
Very good Slightly scratched |
Movement: 2* |
Very good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Brand Cartier, Switzerland
Model Crash yellow gold and diamond set
Year 1992
Case No. A109170
Bracelet Leather with original Cartier deployant clasp
Length 23
Width 38
Weight 49,54g
Signature Dial, case and movement
Notes
Cartier was founded by Louis-François Cartier in Paris in 1847. His sons, Louis, Pierre, and Jacques, expanded the business, opening locations in New York and London during the 20th century. The company’s prominence in the international watch and jewelry scene was affirmed when King Edward VII of England (1841-1910) dubbed Cartier as the “jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers.”
In late 1967, Cartier introduced the iconic "Crash" model at its flagship store on Bond Street in London. One popular story behind its creation involves a Cartier London Vice-President who survived a car crash and fire, during which his Cartier "Baignoire Allongée" watch melted from intense heat, taking on a distorted shape reminiscent of the surreal watches in Salvador Dalí’s 1931 painting The Persistence of Memory (currently housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York). Some have humorously suggested that placing a Baignoire Allongée near a fire could produce the same effect. However, Cartier’s granddaughter, Francesca Cartier Brickell, offers a more practical explanation (but far less exciting…) : the design originated from Cartier’s idea to pinch the ends of the oval case, transforming it into something entirely new.
Regardless of the true inspiration, the psychedelic “Crash Watch” quickly became a symbol of innovation and style. Sold exclusively through Cartier boutiques, only around twenty original models exist, each bearing a dial signed “Cartier / London.” This watch became one of the most emblematic timepieces produced by the legendary jeweler, a symbol of the vibrant spirit of 1960s London.
In 1991, Cartier released a limited edition of 400 pieces, featuring a smaller yellow gold case. The modern iteration of the watch now includes the word “Paris” at six o'clock, replacing “London,” and incorporates Cartier’s secret signature within the numeral VII, where “Cartier” is delicately engraved in capital letters. The case-back also carries the engraving “Paris.” The deployant buckle, designed for this edition, mirrors the watch's distinctive, warped aesthetic. These watches were exclusively sold at the Cartier boutique in London, with multi-year waitlists. To this day, this remains the largest production of the Cartier Crash model ever released.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Cartier introduced diamond-set versions of the Crash. These models featured three rows of pavé diamonds, along with a beaded crown set with a brilliant-cut diamond. This exquisite watch beautifully merges Cartier’s mastery as both a jeweler and a watchmaker.
CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION FOR BUYERS.
The purchase price payable by a buyer will be the sum of the final bid price plus the buyer’s premium, together with any applicable sales or compensating use tax. In addition to the hammer price, the buyer’s premium is payable as follows: 26% of the hammer price on each lot.
Please look carefully at all the photos as they are an integral part of the description. Any defect not mentioned in the descriptions but visible on the photos will be considered as described and cannot lead to any claim. The dimensions are given as an indication and may slightly differ from the measures mentioned by the manufacturers especially for contemporary watches. The photos are not retouched. Colors may differ from reality. For timepieces, we guarantee neither the functioning nor the precision of the movement, nor the water-resistance of the case. In addition, please note that movements, parts of mechanisms or cases may be incomplete.
The lots are sold “as is”, described to the best of our knowledge and cannot be returned. Once the online bid is placed by the bidder, it cannot be cancelled.