The Cartier London Crash from 1990 has fetched a record breaking $2 million at Christie’s Rare Watches auction in Geneva.
While the auction overall fetched a whopping $42.3 million, the standout sale (but not the biggest) was this exceptionally rare Cartier that was made by the company’s acclaimed London workshop.
The watch can now brag that it is the most expensive Cartier piece in history, reaching the highest price ever paid for a Cartier watch at auction, tripling its pre-sale estimate.
The watch is, of course, notable for its asymmetrical face and the Crash has seen a huge surge in popularity and collectability of late. This 1990 issue has the original Crash clasp, full London signatures as well as the Jacques Cartier hallmark.
Pieces from the London studio have become highly sought after items in recent months.
In the 1960s, the London workshop functioned independently to the brand’s Paris branch and thrived under the creative direction of Jean-Jacques Cartier (great-grandson of Cartier’s founder, Louis-François) and became renowned for its experimental creativity. It produced bold, boundary-pushing designs that challenged the watchmaking culture of the time, including the emblematic Crash in 1967, conceived by Jean-Jacques Cartier and head designer Rupert Emmerson, plus new versions of the oval-shaped Baignoire (so beloved by film stars of the day like Romy Schneider and Catherine Deneuve).
Just weeks ago, a 1987 Crash model fetched $1.9 million in an auction and Rami Malek wore a 1992 edition to this year’s Met Gala.
Sam Hines, Global Chairman of Sotheby’s Watches, said of the clamour for Cartier watches at auction: “The appeal of vintage Cartier lies in its ability to capture a moment in design history while remaining entirely timeless. Whether in the bold asymmetry of the Cartier Crash watch or the refined proportions of the Cartier Baignoire Allongée, each watch reflects a unique dialogue between artistry and innovation.
“This collection is remarkable not only for its breadth, but for its depth – particularly in its unprecedented assembly of Cartier London pieces, many of which are among the most important examples ever to appear on the market.”
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