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Cartier
Crash Paris
An extremely rare and attractive platinum wristwatch with asymmetrical case
Full-Cataloguing
- Produced in the early 1990s as part of the first Paris re-edition of the Crash
- Featuring the desirable "Cartier Paris" signed dial
- Believed to be one of approximately eight platinum examples
The Cartier Crash is one of the few watches that has become a true design icon. First introduced by Cartier London in 1967, its unconventional case broke away from the clean lines that had long defined Cartier watches. Over the years, countless stories have surrounded its creation, but it is now known that the design was developed by Jean-Jacques Cartier together with Rupert Emmerson, inspired by the creative atmosphere of 1960s London.
In the early 1990s, Cartier Paris brought the Crash back into production for the first time. The re-edition remained faithful to the original while adopting slightly smaller proportions. Alongside the yellow gold version, Cartier produced an exceptionally small number of platinum examples, believed to be around eight pieces. These rarely appear on the market and are among the most sought-after versions of the Crash.
The present watch is one of those exceptionally rare platinum examples. The "Cartier Paris" signature on the dial immediately identifies it as part of this important early re-edition, while the platinum case gives the already distinctive design an even more understated character. Combining exceptional rarity with one of the most recognizable case designs ever created, the present Crash is a remarkable example of Cartier at its most creative.
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.