CARTIER CRASH, REF. A108488, MANUAL WINDING, 18K YELLOW GOLD, CASE NUMBER 192/400
Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces, , Monaco, Jul 25, 2023, , , , , Very fine and extremely rare, manual winding, 18K yellow gold, vertical asymmetrical “Crash”-shaped, wristwatch., , Very good, Slightly scratched, Very good, Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense, Very good, HANDS Original, Brand Cartier, France, Model Crash Watch, Reference A108488, Year 1991, Movement No. AS1978-2, Case No. 192-91, Material 18K yellow gold, Buckle 18k yellow gold Cartier deployant clasp, Caliber Cartier 160, 17 jewels, Dimensions 23 x 39 mm., Signature dial, case and movement, Accessories Box, warranty, booklet, Cartier was created by Louis-Francois Cartier, in Paris, in 1847. His sons Louis, Pierre and Jacques carried on his work and extended the business to New York and London during the 20th century. Proof of the company's dominance on the international stage as a watch and jewelry designer, king Edward VII of England (1841-1910) referred to Cartier as the “jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers”.,
, The “Crash” model was launched in late-1967 by Cartier, London, in the company’s flagship location on Bond Street. According to one story, a Vice-President of Cartier London was involved in a car crash and ensuing fire. His watch, a Cartier “Baignoire Allongée”, melted from exposure to high temperatures, coming to resemble the surrealistic watch in the Salvador Dali painting, The Persistence of Memory (1931, oil on canvas, 24.1 x 33 cm.; New York, Museum of Modern Art, MoMa, Floor 5, 517, The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries, Inv. 162.1934). Some have even joked that you can obtain a Cartier Crash by placing a Baignoire Allongée near a fire to achieve the same shape. On the other hand, Cartier’s granddaughter, Francesca Cartier Brickell, claims that Cartier’s inspiration for the design originated from his idea to pinch the ends of the oval shape to adapt it into something new. A far less exciting story….,
, The truth behind the inspiration of the design actually does not matter, because the psychedelic “Crash Watch” became quickly an icon. Sold exclusively through Cartier boutiques, only about twenty original watches of this model are known, with dials signed “Cartier / London”. This model is one of the most emblematic watches made by the legendary jeweller; a legend born in the “Swinging London” of the 1960’s.,
, In 1991, a limited edition of 400 examples was released; the modern version is marked “Paris” on the dial and case-back. The deployant buckle designed for the series also looks like it was in a crash. Theses watches were exclusively sold in the London Cartier boutique with multiple-year waitlists. In 1993, a special platinum edition was made for the Geneva Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH). In 2001, Cartier launched the 18K pink gold and 18K white gold versions, with diamond-set bezels, Ref. 2463.,CARTIER CRASH, REF. A108488, MANUAL WINDING, 18K YELLOW GOLD, CASE NUMBER 192/400 | Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces | Monaco,July 25, 2023
Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Monaco, Jul 25, 2023
CARTIER CRASH, REF. A108488, MANUAL WINDING, 18K YELLOW GOLD, CASE NUMBER 192/400
EUR 150,000 - 200,000 USD 164,000 - 218,000 / HKD 1,280,000 - 1,710,000 / CHF 148,000 - 196,000
Very fine and extremely rare, manual winding, 18K yellow gold, vertical asymmetrical “Crash”-shaped, wristwatch.
Very good
Slightly scratched
Very good
Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Very good
HANDS Original
Brand Cartier, France
Model Crash Watch
Reference A108488
Year 1991
Movement No. AS1978-2
Case No. 192-91
Material 18K yellow gold
Buckle 18k yellow gold Cartier deployant clasp
Caliber Cartier 160, 17 jewels
Dimensions 23 x 39 mm.
Signature dial, case and movement
Accessories Box, warranty, booklet
Cartier was created by Louis-Francois Cartier, in Paris, in 1847. His sons Louis, Pierre and Jacques carried on his work and extended the business to New York and London during the 20th century. Proof of the company's dominance on the international stage as a watch and jewelry designer, king Edward VII of England (1841-1910) referred to Cartier as the “jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers”.
The “Crash” model was launched in late-1967 by Cartier, London, in the company’s flagship location on Bond Street. According to one story, a Vice-President of Cartier London was involved in a car crash and ensuing fire. His watch, a Cartier “Baignoire Allongée”, melted from exposure to high temperatures, coming to resemble the surrealistic watch in the Salvador Dali painting, The Persistence of Memory (1931, oil on canvas, 24.1 x 33 cm.; New York, Museum of Modern Art, MoMa, Floor 5, 517, The Alfred H. Barr, Jr. Galleries, Inv. 162.1934). Some have even joked that you can obtain a Cartier Crash by placing a Baignoire Allongée near a fire to achieve the same shape. On the other hand, Cartier’s granddaughter, Francesca Cartier Brickell, claims that Cartier’s inspiration for the design originated from his idea to pinch the ends of the oval shape to adapt it into something new. A far less exciting story….
The truth behind the inspiration of the design actually does not matter, because the psychedelic “Crash Watch” became quickly an icon. Sold exclusively through Cartier boutiques, only about twenty original watches of this model are known, with dials signed “Cartier / London”. This model is one of the most emblematic watches made by the legendary jeweller; a legend born in the “Swinging London” of the 1960’s.
In 1991, a limited edition of 400 examples was released; the modern version is marked “Paris” on the dial and case-back. The deployant buckle designed for the series also looks like it was in a crash. Theses watches were exclusively sold in the London Cartier boutique with multiple-year waitlists. In 1993, a special platinum edition was made for the Geneva Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH). In 2001, Cartier launched the 18K pink gold and 18K white gold versions, with diamond-set bezels, Ref. 2463.
