Cartier Crash

CARTIER

CARTIER Model “Crash Watch” Limited Series No. 174/400 Production in 1991 Wristwatch in 18k (750) yellow gold from a limited series produced in 400 pieces in 1991 Case: deformed with screw closure, the back marked with numbers, cabochon winder, screw closure on the caseband, signed Dial: white with Roman numeral indexes also deformed following the shape of the case, signed Movement: mechanical with manual winding Strap / Clasp: leather with deformed folding clasp in 18k (750) yellow gold, signed With: box and on box, insurance appraisal letter dated June 11, 1992 from Cartier, red imitation leather case including certificate bearing the number 174/400 and two original booklets from the house of Cartier. Dim. 39 x 23 mm Gross weight. 41.30 g This Cartier “Crash Watch” is one of the rare examples sold at the time by the house of Cartier and having survived the decades with its original accessories and box. Preserved carefully by its original owner, it is complete, known as a “full set”, which is an exceptional guarantee of preservation for a discerning collector. The Cartier Crash is one of the most iconic and daring watches from the house of Cartier. Its distorted and asymmetrical design has made it a true object of fascination for collectors and watch enthusiasts. The Cartier Crash was created in 1967 by Cartier London, a semi-independent subsidiary of the parent company Cartier Paris, headed at the time by Jean-Jacques Cartier. Legend has it that the idea for the design was born after a Cartier Baignoire Allongée watch was damaged in a car accident and melted by the heat. This watch was reportedly brought back to Cartier London for repair, inspiring the creation of the Crash. However, the reality is more nuanced: Jean-Jacques Cartier and his designer Rupert Emmerson wanted to create a watch with a radically different design, inspired by the surrealist movement and the deconstructivist style. Our model is that of the 1991 relaunch of the Cartier “Crash Watch” under the leadership of its then president, Alain Dominique Perrin, an emblematic figure of the brand in the 1990s. Only 400 pieces were produced, but rare are the examples so complete with all the original accessories. The “Crash Watch” is much more than a watch with an atypical design; above all, it embodies a break with watchmaking tradition and symbolizes the artistic audacity of Cartier. Its revolutionary design and fascinating history make it today a timeless icon of luxury watchmaking.