Manufacturer: Cartier Year: Circa 1992 Case No: A110298 and 5325 stamped in the inside caseback Model Name: Crash Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual, cal. 160, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Cartier deployant clasp Dimensions: 21mm Width and 38mm Length Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Cartier presentation box, outer packaging and product literature.
Catalogue Essay
Most would agree that the Crash is the most iconic wristwatch manufactured by Cartier due to its exceptionally good looks and ingenious case design. While its unique asymmetrical case design immediately connects one to Salvador Dali’s “Persistence of Memory”, its bold curves, blued steel hands and cabochon sapphire crown immediately declares "Cartier".
Initially introduced by Cartier London in 1967, the Crash has enjoyed various iterations since its launch with gem-set models and skeletonized versions. It was by far the most daring and spectacular model the manufacture produced during this period. The present watch is a highly limited version produced in the early 1990s and cased in platinum - the rarest case metal and most exclusive version of the 1990s Crash. To date, no more than a few handful of examples have graced the auction market. Furthermore, those who do own one hardly ever sell them due to the rarity of the model, which underlies the exceptional desirability of the present timepiece.
With 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.