Sotheby's to Auction Over 300 Vintage Cartier Watches, Including Rare 1987 London Crash

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:16:00 +0200

A remarkable collection of more than 300 vintage Cartier timepieces, assembled over 25 years by an anonymous collector, is heading to Sotheby's auction. The highlight is a rare 1987 yellow gold Cartier Crash from the London atelier, believed to be one of only three produced that year. This iconic distorted oval watch, with an estimate of $400,000 to $800,000, was deliberately shaped by Jean-Jacques Cartier and designer Rupert Emmerson, debunking the long-circulated myth of it resulting from a car fire accident. The design intentionally bent and pinched the Maxi Oval case to create one of watchmaking's most radical and surreal forms, reflecting the bold experimentation of Cartier's London workshop between 1967 and 1974. The collection spans iconic models like the Santos, Tank, Baignoire, Pebble, Decagonal, Asymetrique, and Driver, showcasing the maison's innovative silhouettes from its Paris, New York, and London workshops. Experts expect the entire collection to exceed $15 million, but