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 a birth of this model, rumor has it that the inspiration comes from a melted Maxi Baignoire Allongée from the fire of a car crash, others refer it to the surrealist Salvador Dali’s most recognised work, Persistence of Memory.
Reissued in 2016 and in a very limited batch of 67 pieces, the Crash Skeleton is an artisan marvel with a sculpted movement 9618MC unique to its contour. The openwork 18K pink gold version is seamlessly integrated with a skeletonized bridges crafted with Roman numerals and striking blue sword-shaped hands. With a 3 days power reserve beating at 4Hz and measuring in a 45.3mm length, slightly larger than the original, the watch not only can be adorned by ladies, but also adapts easily on men’s wrist.
The Cartier Crash is one of the most sought after classics by collectors, with its strong design language, rarity, and an incredible achievement of excellent auction result from the Hong Kong Watch Auction: X. This is certainly a rare opportunity to acquire such an iconic timepiece.
The present example is presented in excellent overall condition with very minimal signs of use and wear. The hallmarks remain deep and strong on the case back. Adding collectability to this limited piece is the complete original full set accessories.
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.