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Descrizione dettagliata lotto
Cartier's 'Crash' watch is overwhelmingly an object of desire; once seen, it can never be forgotten. It instills in its beholder an almost magnetic fascination born of truly great design and craftsmanship, its fluid free-form shape and specially designed dial unique among wristwatches—an exemplar of what can only be described as "the genius of Cartier." The present white gold sapphire-set Crash with silvered dial is a perfect embodiment of that spirit, yet it is also something more: a specification of exceptional rarity.
Sapphire-set examples of the Crash are exceedingly uncommon. Unlike diamonds, which Cartier employed more readily across its jewelled creations, sapphires were reserved for only the most select pieces—their deep blue hue demanding a discerning eye and a willingness to prioritise colour over mere brilliance. The present watch is further distinguished by a dial signed "Made in France"—a detail of considerable significance to the connoisseur. French-made dials from this era are rarely encountered on the Crash, and their presence on a sapphire-set white gold example elevates the piece to a level of scarcity that few Crash watches can claim.
In 1967 when the first ‘Crash’ watch was created, the design was not only avant-garde but positively and deliberately shocking. Available only in yellow gold and sold exclusively at the Cartier Boutique London, it is thought that only around 20 examples were originally made. Small numbers of variants were produced over the following decades until the present day.
The Cartier ‘Crash’
For such an extraordinary creation as Cartier’s Crash watch, it is quite surprising that the story of its origins were, until recently, shrouded in mystery. The absence of any official information led to some wonderfully romantic myths surrounding the source of Jean-Jacques Cartier’s inspiration for the Crash’s design. Some claimed the idea was ignited by Salvador Dali’s painting ‘La Persistance de la Mémoire de Dali’, others believed that its form came from a melted Cartier Maxi Baignoire Allongée. It was also rumoured that one of Cartier's founders was in a car crash in the late 1960s and the resulting mis-shapen watch served as the influence for the watch. However, the true full story is now confirmed by Francesca Cartier Brickell, Jean-Jacques Cartier’s granddaughter, whose recent book ‘The Cartiers: The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewellery Empire’ was published in 2019.
1960s London was an exciting place to be and Jean-Jacques Cartier, who had instigated the making of Cartier watches in London, wanted to create a wristwatch that was truly a response to the spirit of the age. In fact, the Crash watch was the idea of Jean-Jacques Cartier and designer Rupert Emmerson, who together, after many attempts, eventually came up with a final design. The appearance of the resulting watch, named the ‘Crash’ was in complete contrast to the straight lines of the traditional Tank and oval.
Always hand-made, and produced in such small numbers, the Crash watch is almost impossible to obtain, its quasi-mythical status as an instantly recognizable yet highly exclusive design icon has assured its eternal appeal.
Sapphire-set examples of the Crash are exceedingly uncommon. Unlike diamonds, which Cartier employed more readily across its jewelled creations, sapphires were reserved for only the most select pieces—their deep blue hue demanding a discerning eye and a willingness to prioritise colour over mere brilliance. The present watch is further distinguished by a dial signed "Made in France"—a detail of considerable significance to the connoisseur. French-made dials from this era are rarely encountered on the Crash, and their presence on a sapphire-set white gold example elevates the piece to a level of scarcity that few Crash watches can claim.
In 1967 when the first ‘Crash’ watch was created, the design was not only avant-garde but positively and deliberately shocking. Available only in yellow gold and sold exclusively at the Cartier Boutique London, it is thought that only around 20 examples were originally made. Small numbers of variants were produced over the following decades until the present day.
The Cartier ‘Crash’
For such an extraordinary creation as Cartier’s Crash watch, it is quite surprising that the story of its origins were, until recently, shrouded in mystery. The absence of any official information led to some wonderfully romantic myths surrounding the source of Jean-Jacques Cartier’s inspiration for the Crash’s design. Some claimed the idea was ignited by Salvador Dali’s painting ‘La Persistance de la Mémoire de Dali’, others believed that its form came from a melted Cartier Maxi Baignoire Allongée. It was also rumoured that one of Cartier's founders was in a car crash in the late 1960s and the resulting mis-shapen watch served as the influence for the watch. However, the true full story is now confirmed by Francesca Cartier Brickell, Jean-Jacques Cartier’s granddaughter, whose recent book ‘The Cartiers: The Untold Story of the Family Behind the Jewellery Empire’ was published in 2019.
1960s London was an exciting place to be and Jean-Jacques Cartier, who had instigated the making of Cartier watches in London, wanted to create a wristwatch that was truly a response to the spirit of the age. In fact, the Crash watch was the idea of Jean-Jacques Cartier and designer Rupert Emmerson, who together, after many attempts, eventually came up with a final design. The appearance of the resulting watch, named the ‘Crash’ was in complete contrast to the straight lines of the traditional Tank and oval.
Always hand-made, and produced in such small numbers, the Crash watch is almost impossible to obtain, its quasi-mythical status as an instantly recognizable yet highly exclusive design icon has assured its eternal appeal.