153Σ︎
Cartier
Crash Paris
An extremely well-preserved asymmetrical wristwatch with guarantee and box, numbered 303 of a limited edition of 400 pieces
Full-Cataloguing
- Design icon by Cartier that was remade in a limited edition in 1991 in yellow gold
- Numbered 303 of a limited edition of 400 pieces
- Accompanied by original accessories
- Consigned by the original owner and preserved in unpolished and exceptional condition
An icon of the swinging sixties crafted by the great maker of shaped watches, the Cartier Crash remains not just one of the most radical designs born in 1967 but one of the greatest throughout the decades. With a mysterious origin of the birth of this model, rumour has it that the inspiration comes from a melted Cartier Baignoire from the fire of a car crash, others refer it to the surrealist Salvador Dali’s most recognised work, Persistence of Memory. While the tale of the timepiece is compelling and romantic, the origin was addressed in Francesca Cartier Brickell’s book, The Cartiers, where she recounts a conversation with her grandfather Jean-Jacques Cartier, about how the audacity of the design was sketched out with artisan Rupert Emmerson.
Today, the Cartier Crash has become somewhat of a cultural icon, adorning the wrists of celebrities and artists alike. It represents everything that Cartier is best known for: merging design, form and function together which transforms a timepiece beyond a "watch" and into a piece of art.
Whereas the original London Crash of the 1960s was a special commission piece the, the present watch from 1991 represents the introduction of the Crash into the Cartier catalogue as a production piece. The present watch is consigned by the original owner who purchased the timepiece at the Peninsula Boutique in Hong Kong. Having worn the watch only a handful of times, it is preserved in exceptional and unpolished condition, with beautiful patina throughout - as result of the watch having spent most of its life in the safe.
Cartier
FrenchWith the Constitution of 1848 came a new standard for luxury in France. Founded one year prior by Louis-Francois Cartier, the house of Cartier was one of the first to use platinum in jewelry making. This incredibly expensive material became the stepping-stone for Cartier to experiment in form, mechanisms and attitude. It helped men move from pocket watches to wristwatches, effectively making the watch much more functional and prominent in a man's overall wardrobe.
Cartier did not only touch on functionality. Inspired by a commissioned painting by George Barbier featuring a black panther at the feet of an elegantly bejeweled woman, Cartier began incorporating wild animals in his designs—most notably, Cartier Panthère rings, bangle bracelets and watches. Yet it wasn't until the late 1960s that the house of Cartier debuted their iconic yellow and rose gold LOVE collection, which includes the famous bracelet that only a special screwdriver can open.