Cartier Crash

If Cartier is regarded as the master of watch design, the Crash is Cartier’s masterwork. One of the most collectible watches on the planet, it exudes an aura of mystery and legend unlike any other.

Since the introduction of the Crash in 1967, the elusive watch has enjoyed a special place in Cartier’s catalog as an object both extremely rare and highly coveted. Until just a few years ago, its true story was unknown. Dozens of legends emerged explaining the origins of this almost mythical design: Some claimed that it was inspired by the paintings of Salvador Dali, a brilliant Spanish surrealist artist known for his eclectic paintings of melting timepieces with distorted, asymmetrical case shapes. Others suggested that the Crash was actually influenced by a destroyed Cartier Maxi Oval, tragically devastated by a fatal car fire.

Unfortunately for the more imaginative among us, the truth is quite a bit less exciting.

The granddaughter of Jean-Jacques Cartier, Francesca Cartier Breckell, revealed that Jean-Jacques and famous designer Rupert Emerson wanted to modernize a Cartier design to suit the emerging psychedelic era of fashion and culture. The result was the Cartier Crash, a modified Maxi Oval. With its asymmetrical, whimsical case design, flowing lines, and elegant incongruity, it has since become a cultural fascination.

The mystery of the Crash certainly added a zero or two to the price tag, but at the end of the day, with soaring demand, Cartier had only made a few hundred total pieces — indeed, the Crash was always designed to be a rare gem for the distinguished few. A number of celebrities have owned one, including Jay-Z, Kanye West, Timothée Chalamet, and Elton John.

This example is one of a 400-piece limited edition release dating back to 1991. Produced in Paris in a slightly scaled-down yellow gold case size of 22.5mm x 38.5mm, it features the icon's signature, stylized Roman numerals and a blued steel handset set against a Paris-signed white dial. Affixed to a brown leather strap with a signed, yellow gold deployant clasp, it — like most traditional Cartier pieces — is set with a blue sapphire cabochon crown.

The majority of Crash watches have remained in family estates, so while 400 were made in this series, only a tiny number have ever come to market and were reserved for the maison's most important clientele.

The ultimate collector’s Cartier, a Crash will make you the envy of every Cartier aficionado in the world. These watches never stick around long — so if you want one, speak now or forever hold your peace!

Despite being a purveyor of haute joaillerie, Cartier has had a long tradition of making watches.
It started in 1907, when founder Louis Cartier made what was one of the first wristwatches for his friend Alberto Santos-Dumont. In the following years, the brand made a name for itself with its most famous wristwatch, the Tank, in all its multitudinous forms.

Cartier introduced the Tank in 1917 — which was supposedly inspired by the Renault FT-17 tanks seen on the battlefields of World War I — with a run of six pieces. (According to legend, these were given to American General John J. Pershing and his staff.) Cartier took the look of the Renault tank's treads and applied it to the watch’s lugs, which were integrated via brancards into the case itself. That first run of six pieces increased to thirty-three by 1920, and by the end of the 20th Century, that number stood well in the hundreds of thousands. Indeed, in sheer volume alone, the Tank — in all its various models — is Cartier's largest line of watches.

The Tank Louis was introduced in 1922, followed close on the heels of the Asian-influenced Tank Chinoise. The Chinoise, released amidst a mania for jewelry inspired by the Orient, has a square rather than rectangular case and lugs that resemble the portico of a Chinese pagoda.
From its debut, the Tank would see many variations, each in keeping with Louis Cartier’s taste for clean lines and perfect symmetry. Each variant — from the original Tank to the Tank Louis to the Cintrée with its flirtatious, curvaceous lines — has its passionate devotees. Rudolph Valentino, that sensual star of the silver screen, insisted on wearing his Tank onscreen in The Son of the Sheik, and Clark Gable, Andy Warhol, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis were among those who sported a one throughout the years.

Other model lines, including the Santos (based upon the original model crafted for Alberto Santos-Dumont) and the Pasha, have developed devoted followers. Indeed, the maison is unique as one of the few jewelry brands to elicit as much passion from collectors as dedicated watch companies.

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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.