
The Most Important Collection of Vintage Cartier Watches Ever Assembled Is Heading to Auction
More than 300 pieces from a landmark single-owner collection will cross the block at Sotheby’s between April and December.
Cartier watches have increased in value faster than Rolexes over the past decade, according to a new report, and now Sotheby’s is giving brand devotees the chance to make a savvy investment.
The auction house is putting a gobsmacking lineup of vintage timepieces from the Maison on the block, at a time when vintage Cartiers have become catnip for serious collectors. Curated by one enthusiast, the trove is brimming with more than 300 watches—from Tanks to Crashes to Bagnoires. Sotheby’s is calling it the most important and comprehensive collection of vintage Cartiers ever brought to market.
The cream of the crop is a striking Cartier Crash, believed to be one of just three iterations made in 1987. The famed surrealist oval wristwatch, made in the house’s London headquarters known for its daring designs, comes with its original gold deployment buckle and is expected to hammer down from between $569,000 to $1,137,000. First brought to life by Jean-Jacques Cartier and his head designer Rupert Emmerson, the timepiece has become popular choice among celebrities and deep-pocketed collectors alike.

Beyond the Crash, the auction will offer a Decagonal model, also made in London, which is estimated to rake in from $85,300 to $113,700. The unusual 18-carat yellow-gold iteration, with its 10-sided case and large Roman numerals, is just one of five models known to exist. Other highlights include an extremely rare Asymétrique with a bold blue-enamel dial ($71,100–$113,700); a Tank Asymétrique in 18-white gold and blue numerals ($85,300–$113,700) and a lady’s 18-carat white-gold Octagonal ($71,100–$113,700).
“The appeal of vintage Cartier lies in its ability to capture a moment in design history while remaining entirely timeless,” Sam Hines, global chairman of Sotheby’s Watches, said in a press statement. “Whether in the bold asymmetry of the Cartier Crash watch or the refined proportions of the Cartier Baignoire Allongée, each watch reflects a unique dialogue between artistry and innovation. This collection is remarkable not only for its breadth, but for its depth—particularly in its unprecedented assembly of Cartier London pieces, many of which are among the most important examples ever to appear on the market.”

The Shapes of Cartier: The Finest Vintage Group Every Assembled sale, expected to fetch more than $21 million, will go under the hammer at a variety of Sotheby’s Important Watch auctions from April to December. The first cache of watches will be up for grabs in Hong Kong on April 24, with that 1987 Cartier Crash at the helm.
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Courtesy of Patricks


