The watch is instantly recognisable for its dramatic asymmetrical case and warped dial, which gives the appearance of it having melted or been twisted out of shape. The design’s striking silhouette and limited production has made the watch highly sought-after — a rare 18k gold, London-made Cartier Crash watch was sold by Christie’s for USD$819,000 in 2024.
Many believed Salvador Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory (1931) influenced the watch’s design, while others suggested a client’s damaged Cartier Baignoire led to the creation of the Cartier Crash. The true inspiration for the watch had remained a mystery until 2019, when Francesca Cartier Brickell — granddaughter of Jean-Jacques Cartier — confirmed the watch had been created to embody the Swinging Sixties’ rejection of convention.
Since the Crash’s original creation, Cartier has released limited reissues over the subsequent decades. In 2013, diamond-set models in white and rose gold were released, and then in 2015, the bold Crash Skeleton design was launched.
Today, the Cartier Crash is celebrated as a masterpiece of design, blurring the boundaries between jewellery, horology and wearable art.
CARTIER. A SPECIAL ORDER AND PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN 18K WHITE GOLD ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH ‘NICKELÉ’ GREY DIAL AND ‘CRASH’ DEPLOYANT CLASP
CRASH MODEL, REF. 4131, CASE NO. 385887BX, CIRCA 2021
CARTIER. A SUPREMELY RARE, UNUSUAL AND HIGHLY COVETED 18K GOLD ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH ‘CRASH’ DEPLOYANT CLASP
SIGNED CARTIER, LONDON, CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. 24175B, MOVEMENT SIGNED CARTIER, CASE AND CLASP WITH LONDON HALLMARKS FOR 1986
CARTIER. A VERY RARE AND ATTRACTIVE 18K GOLD ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH BURGUNDY ROMAN NUMERALS
CRASH MODEL, REF. WGCH0014, CASE NO. 157498AX AND 4127
CARTIER. AN ATTRACTIVE AND EXTREMELY RARE PLATINUM ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH BURGUNDY ROMAN NUMERALS
CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. A 109’836
CARTIER. AN EXTREMELY RARE PLATINUM ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. A110289
CARTIER. A RARE 18K WHITE GOLD ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. 119351AF
CARTIER. AN EXTREMELY RARE PLATINUM ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. A114611
CARTIER. A HIGHLY DESIRABLE AND RARE 18K GOLD LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH ‘ CRASH ’ DEPLOYANT CLASP
SIGNED CARTIER, PARIS, 'CRASH' MODEL, CASE NO. A108446, NO. 150, CIRCA 1991
CARTIER. A VERY RARE AND GORGEOUS 18K GOLD, ENAMEL AND DIAMOND-SET LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH TIGRÉE MODEL, CASE NO. 6⁄50, CIRCA 2022
CARTIER. A VERY RARE 18K GOLD ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. A108418 AND 122-91
CARTIER. AN ICONIC AND UNUSUAL 18K GOLD LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH ‘ CRASH ’ DEPLOYANT CLASP
'CRASH PARIS' MODEL, CASE NO. A108574, NO. 278⁄400, CIRCA 1991
CARTIER. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND UNUSUAL 18K PINK GOLD ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH 'CRASH' DEPLOYANT CLASP
SIGNED CARTIER, CRASH MODEL, REF. 2838, CASE NO. 10124PX, CIRCA 2010
CARTIER. A RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. 100133NX, CIRCA 2009
CARTIER. AN EXTREMELY RARE PLATINUM AND DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. A114605
CARTIER. A RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. 100130X, CIRCA 2009
CARTIER. A PLATINUM AND DIAMOND-SET LIMITED EDITION SKELETONISED ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CIRCA 2015
CARTIER. AN 18K GOLD LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CIRCA 1991
CARTIER. A VERY RARE AND UNUSUAL 18K GOLD LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH ‘ CRASH ’ DEPLOYANT CLASP
SIGNED CARTIER, PARIS, 'CRASH' MODEL, CASE NO. A108396, NO. 100/400, CIRCA 1991
CARTIER. A VERY RARE AND ATTRACTIVE 18K GOLD LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH ‘ CRASH ’ DEPLOYANT CLASP, CERTIFICATE AND BOX
SIGNED CARTIER, PARIS, 'CRASH' MODEL, CASE NO. A108581, NO. 285/400, CIRCA 1991
CARTIER. A RARE AND UNUSUAL 18K GOLD LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH ‘ CRASH ’ DEPLOYANT CLASP
SIGNED CARTIER, PARIS, 'CRASH' MODEL, CASE NO. A108401, NO. 105/400, CIRCA 1991
CARTIER. A RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, LIMITED EDITION OF 50 PIECES, MADE FOR THE RE-OPENING OF THE PARIS BOUTIQUE
CARTIER. A VERY RARE 18K GOLD ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. A108494 AND 198-91
CARTIER. A RARE AND UNUSUAL 18K PINK GOLD ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH ‘ CRASH ’ DEPLOYANT CLASP
SIGNED CARTIER, 'CRASH' MODEL, REF. 2463, CASE NO. 120134 AF, CIRCA 2000
CARTIER. A RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CIRCA 2002
CARTIER. A VERY RARE AND UNUSUAL 18K GOLD LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH ‘ CRASH ’ DEPLOYANT CLASP
SIGNED CARTIER, PARIS, 'CRASH' MODEL, CASE NO. A108472, NO. 176, CIRCA 1991
CARTIER. A RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
CRASH MODEL, REF. WL420051, CIRCA 2022
CARTIER. AN IMPRESSIVE, FINE AND VERY RARE PLATINUM AND DIAMOND-SET LIMITED EDITION SKELETONISED ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
SIGNED CARTIER, CRASH SQUELETTE MODEL, NO. 60/67, MOVEMENT NO. 65, CASE NO. 3740A, CIRCA 2015
CARTIER. AN 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CIRCA 2006
CARTIER. AN 18K GOLD LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH RADIEUSE MODEL, CIRCA 2018
CARTIER. AN 18K GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CIRCA 1994
CARTIER. AN 18K GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CIRCA 1994
CARTIER. A LADY'S FINE AND RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
SIGNED CARTIER, CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. A 114684, CIRCA 2000
CARTIER. A LADY'S FINE AND VERY RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRIC WRISTWATCH WITH BRACELET
SIGNED CARTIER, CRASH MODEL, NO. 63/67, REF. 3619, CASE NO. 34356TX, CIRCA 2013
CARTIER. A LADY'S FINE AND RARE 18K PINK GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
SIGNED CARTIER, CRASH MODEL, REF. 2838, CASE NO. 16533RX, CIRCA 2009
CARTIER. A FINE AND VERY RARE LADY'S 18K PINK GOLD AND PINK DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRIC WRISTWATCH
SIGNED CARTIER, PARIS, CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. A111032, CIRCA 1995
CARTIER. A LADY'S FINE AND RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
SIGNED CARTIER, 13 RUE DE LA PAIX PARIS, CRASH MODEL, REF. 2774, N0. 06/50, CASE NO. 125240AF, CIRCA 2006
CARTIER. A FINE AND RARE LADY'S 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
SIGNED CARTIER, PARIS, CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. A114939, CIRCA 2005
CARTIER. A VERY RARE 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
CRASH MODEL, CIRCA 2006
CARTIER. A FINE AND VERY RARE LADY'S PLATINUM ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
SIGNED CARTIER, PARIS, CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. A110288, CIRCA 1992
CARTIER. A FINE AND RARE LADY'S 18K WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
SIGNED CARTIER, CRASH MODEL, REF. 2462, CASE NO. 123875AF, CIRCA 2003
CARTIER. A LADY'S RARE, FINE AND UNUSUAL 18K GOLD LIMITED EDITION ASYMMETRICAL WRISTWATCH
SIGNED CARTIER, PARIS, CRASH MODEL, CASE NO. 188-91, CIRCA 1991