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.