1036Σ︎
Cartier
Ref. 2774
Crash
A rare and well-preserved white gold and diamond-set asymmetrical wristwatch with certificate and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
- Well-preserved example and overhauled at Cartier in 2014
- Accompanied by certificate and box
Few watches have the power to stop a room quite like the Cartier Crash. Born in 1967 and more coveted than ever amid the current surge in demand for the model, it stands as the ultimate holy grail.
Its origin story has long been romanticised. Some see in its warped form the melting clocks of Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory; others prefer the tale of a Baignoire that supposedly melted in a burning car. The truth, as revealed by Francesca Cartier Brickell in The Cartiers, is more elegant and factual: the Crash was born on Bond Street, the joint creation of Jean-Jacques Cartier and master artisan Rupert Emmerson, who daringly stretched and bent the Maison’s codes into something entirely new.
Watches of this beauty so rarely appear. The present example, reference 2774 is a more extravagant interpretation of the iconic form, meticulously set brilliant-cut diamonds across the white-gold case. Offered with a certificate stamped by Cartier St. Moritz, one can imagine the glittering high-altitude glamour of the Swiss Alps where winter sunlight, fur coats and quiet luxury set the perfect stage for this watch. Sinuous, glamorous, and utterly unforgettable, this timepiece remains in superb condition, complete with its full set of accessories and an extra pink crocodile strap for ones with style.
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.