製造商: Cartier 年份: Circa 1991 錶殼號碼: A108’409, 113-91 型號名稱: Crash, Paris Edition 材料: 18K yellow gold 機芯: Manual, cal. 1978-2, 17 jewels 錶帶/ 錶鏈: Crocodile 錶扣: 18K yellow gold Cartier deployant clasp 尺寸: 38mm length x 23mm width 簽名: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed 配件: Accompanied by Cartier suede pouch.
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The Cartier Crash was regarded as one of the most enigmatic timepieces introduced by the firm in 1967 at their prestigious New Bond Street Boutique in London. With a mysterious story packed with controversial legends along with its daring and unusual aesthetics, the Crash quickly became an icon on its own of the 20th century. While some say that the timepiece was inspired by Salvador Dali’s melting clock from the “Persistence of Memory”, some would argue that it was inspired by a Cartier Baignoire that was deformed during a car crash. Regardless of the true inspiration behind the piece, the Crash is simply unique.
The 1960s was an exciting era for the Parisian House of Luxury as branches of the establishment operated individually with Paris, New York and London. Headed by the great grandson of founder, Jean-Jacques Cartier, the innovative approach to creating extraordinary timepieces and luxury goods to cater towards their trendy clientele was inevitable.
The Cartier Crash is certainly a superlative timepiece and it is perhaps the most celebrated Cartier wristwatch ever by esteemed collectors. In 1991, Cartier Paris created their very own version of the Crash as a limited edition of 400 pieces in yellow gold sharing much of the same aesthetical principles to the original example from 1967.
The present example is indeed an example from one of the 400 pieces produced in 1991 by Cartier Paris numbered 113. Preserved in attractive overall condition with a voluptuous case with its delicate curves uninterrupted, it further boasts a clean dial featuring its iconic Cartier signature at 7 o'clock. With a heightened demand for the Cartier Crash in recent times, the present example is a treat for collectors trying to get their hands on this beloved 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.
