The story of the Cartier Crash Designer Watch
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Some watches are rare. Some are unique. But the Cartier Crash? It's in a whole different league. It's a watch that immediately draws attention. Extremely rare and highly sought-after – when one does surface, it easily sells for a few hundred thousand euros. A Crash from 1967? It was recently auctioned for over a million. No ordinary watch – a true statement.
But how did Cartier come up with such a wild design? And what versions are there?
The origin of the Cartier Crash
There is a persistent rumor that the Cartier Crash was the result of an accident – in the truest sense of the word. A customer is said to have come into the store with a deformed Cartier watch after a car accident. The brand found the look so wacky that they apparently created a new design based on it. Sounds cool, sure – but according to Francesca Cartier Brickell, author of The Cartiers and granddaughter of Jean-Jacques Cartier, there is no real proof that this accident ever happened. What she does say, however, is that the design was clearly influenced by the surrealist art scene. Think of Dalí's The Persistence of Memory – those melting watches? Exactly the feeling. What we do know is that this design turns heads like no other.
Which Cartier Crash models are there?
The first Crash was launched in 1967 – but that was just the beginning. Since then, Cartier has released various versions. Always with the iconic, distorted case at its heart, but always in tune with the times. One of the boldest to date? The Cartier Crash Skeleton. We'll give you an overview of the most important models.
And by the way: Take a close look at the dial. The small text below reveals subtle clues to the watch's origins:
- Paris dial – The word “Paris” refers to the legendary Cartier boutique on Rue de la Paix.
- Swiss Made dial – Later models bear the classic Swiss label.
- London dial – A relic from early London production. Some have no text at all, others clearly indicate British roots.
1. The Original Cartier Crash (1967)
The very first Crash came onto the market in 1967 and is still considered the holy grail among collectors. Only a few examples were made in London – these early models are extremely rare today. The distorted case – which truly looks as if it had melted – measures approximately 43 mm long and 25 mm wide. This makes it slightly smaller than later versions.
Inside ticks the LeCoultre Caliber 841, which is hand-wound and has a power reserve of approximately 36 to 40 hours.
Vintage models in good condition, especially in gold, currently fetch prices between €200,000 and over €800,000 at auctions – depending on condition, provenance, and rarity.
Source: AI, wristler