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Vintage Cartier Watch Crashes Through Records, Selling for $2M
Believed to be one of three made in 1987, the Cartier London Crash was hot at the “Shapes of Cartier” sale at Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
A rare 18-karat yellow-gold Cartier London Crash watch circa 1987 sold for $2 million, more than double its pre-sale estimate, setting the record for the most valuable Cartier wristwatch ever sold at auction.
Hong Kong—A rare Cartier London Crash watch circa 1987 sold for a record-breaking $2 million at Sotheby’s Important Watches auction held in Hong Kong last week.
Sotheby’s said the model is among the rarest and most sought-after Cartier timepieces today.
The auction house estimated that fewer than a dozen original London Crash watches were produced between 1967 and 1970, with only three produced in 1987.
The watch more than doubled its pre-sale estimate following a nine-minute bidding battle between collectors online, on the phones, and in the room. In the end, it sold to a Japanese private collector.
It was a highlight of “The Shapes of Cartier: The Finest Vintage Grouping Ever Assembled” sale.
The Important Watches auction achieved a total of $52.9 million, becoming the highest total ever realized for a watch sale at Sotheby’s, it said, and the most valuable watch auction ever held in Asia at any auction house.
Sotheby’s noted that “The Shapes of Cartier” sale was central to this landmark result, representing the largest and most comprehensive collection of vintage Cartier watches ever presented at auction.
The “Shapes of Cartier” collection comprises more than 300 timepieces that Sotheby’s said trace a century of technical ingenuity and artistic exploration, underscoring Cartier’s ability to redefine the form and function of a wristwatch.
The debut sale in Hong Kong featured 82 pieces, which garnered $13.8 million, with every lot sold.
Additional pieces from the collection will be offered at Sotheby’s Important Watches auctions in Geneva and New York through December.
“This sale was a resounding success and a powerful signal for the market, surpassing the previous highest total set in our New York sale room only four months ago,” said Geoff Hess, global head of Sotheby’s watches.
Sotheby’s said the model is among the rarest and most sought-after Cartier timepieces today.
The auction house estimated that fewer than a dozen original London Crash watches were produced between 1967 and 1970, with only three produced in 1987.
The watch more than doubled its pre-sale estimate following a nine-minute bidding battle between collectors online, on the phones, and in the room. In the end, it sold to a Japanese private collector.
It was a highlight of “The Shapes of Cartier: The Finest Vintage Grouping Ever Assembled” sale.
The Important Watches auction achieved a total of $52.9 million, becoming the highest total ever realized for a watch sale at Sotheby’s, it said, and the most valuable watch auction ever held in Asia at any auction house.
Sotheby’s noted that “The Shapes of Cartier” sale was central to this landmark result, representing the largest and most comprehensive collection of vintage Cartier watches ever presented at auction.
The “Shapes of Cartier” collection comprises more than 300 timepieces that Sotheby’s said trace a century of technical ingenuity and artistic exploration, underscoring Cartier’s ability to redefine the form and function of a wristwatch.
The debut sale in Hong Kong featured 82 pieces, which garnered $13.8 million, with every lot sold.
Additional pieces from the collection will be offered at Sotheby’s Important Watches auctions in Geneva and New York through December.
“This sale was a resounding success and a powerful signal for the market, surpassing the previous highest total set in our New York sale room only four months ago,” said Geoff Hess, global head of Sotheby’s watches.
A Cartier London J.C.C. Tank Allongée watch circa 1992 in 18-karat white gold with an elongated black dial
A Carier London Tank Normale watch, circa 1967-1968, featuring an 18-karat yellow gold rectangular case with stretched red numerals on the dial
Records were also set for two Cartier London Tank models, the J.J.C. Allongée and the Normale.
The Cartier London Tank J.J.C. Allongée, circa 1992, sold for $735,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $40,000 to $60,000, while the Cartier London Tank Normal, circa 1967 to 1968 achieved $588,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.
A Cartier London Baignoire watch with an 18-karat yellow gold oval-shaped case and blued steel pointed baton hands circa 1973-1974
A Cartier London Asymétrique watch, circa 1973-1974, with a case featuring blue enamel over 18-karat yellow and blued steel épée hands on a white dial
A Cartier Paris Oval-Form Skeletonized watch circa 1973 uses sapphire crystals on the front and back of the 18-karat yellow gold case to showcase the watch’s mechanics
A record was also set for the Baignoire model, as a Cartier London Baignoire watch, circa 1973 to 1974, fetched $621,000 against its pre-sale estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.
Meanwhile, more than 15 bidders vied for a Cartier London Asymétrique watch that Sotheby’s said is highly unusual, made in 18-karat yellow gold with blue enamel.
The watch, circa 1973 to 1974, dates to the closing chapter of Cartier Bond Street’s most experimental era.
According to Sotheby’s, there are only five known Cartier London enamel watches from this era.
It sold for more than 10 times the high end of its pre-sale estimate of $82,000, achieving $850,000.
Another watch to surpass expectations was the Cartier Paris oval-form skeletonized wristwatch in 18-karat yellow gold, circa 1973.
This “very fine and exceptionally rare” timepiece sold for $948,000 against a high-end pre-sale estimate of about $51,000.
A purse watch in the form of a walnut crafted from 9-karat yellow gold by Cartier London circa 1958-1959
An Art Deco clip watch by Cartier Paris, circa 1928-1929, uses 18-karat yellow gold adorned with black enamel on the case
Alongside the record-breaking wristwatches were Cartier form watches.
A Cartier London 9-karat yellow gold purse watch in the form of a walnut, circa 1958 to 1959, fetched $123,000, sixteen times the high-end of its pre-sale estimate of $8,000.
A Cartier Paris Art Deco clip watch circa 1928 to 1929 sold for ten times its high estimate of $10,000, garnering $98,000.
Also highlights of Sotheby’s Hong Kong’s Important Watches auction were timepieces by Patek Phillipe, A. Lange & Söhne, and Daniel Roth.
A. Lange & Söhne’s limited-edition Tourbillon Pour le Mérite Ref 701.007 circa 1998 features an 18-karat white gold case on a blue alligator strap
Patek Philippe’s La Maison Platine Ref 2552 retailed by Cartier circa 1959
A Daniel Roth Tourbillon Skeleton watch circa 1995 in platinum on a black alligator strap
A world record was set by A. Lange & Söhne’s Tourbillon Pour le Mérite watch (Ref. 701.007) that dates to 1998 and is believed to be one of fewer than 20 to exist, according to the auction house.
It far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $150,000 to $300,000, fetching $1.3 million.
A Patek Philippe La Maison Platine (Ref. 2552) also set a world record as it achieved $768,000, within its pre-sale estimate of $625,000 to $1.3 million.
The Patek Philippe watch is widely regarded as one of its most important time-only vintage wristwatches, Sotheby’s said. It was retailed by Cartier New York in 1959 and is one of nine known platinum versions.
Another auction record was set by a Daniel Roth Tourbillon Skeleton watch that became the most valuable piece from the watchmaker, as it sold for $866,000, exceeding its high-end pre-sale estimate of $250,000.
Made in 1995, the watch features the classic Daniel Roth double-ellipse watch case.
“While the Cartier timepieces were the undeniable centerpiece, what proved equally exciting was the exceptional depth of bidding across both vintage watches and independent makers,” said Joey Luk, global head of watch collections sourcing and sales at Sotheby’s.
The Important Watches sale in Hong Kong was sold 97 percent by lot, with more than half of the lots selling above the high estimate.
More than 800 bidders from more than 50 countries participated, which Sotheby’s noted marked a 50 percent rise in bidders from last season.
Sotheby’s Important Watches auction in Geneva is slated for May 10.
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