Cartier “Crash”/”Dali” Watch
Wanting
Usually called the Cartier “Dali” watch, Cartier’s melted watch is really the Cartier “Crash” watch, and Salvador Dali had nothing to do with the design, though he’d appreciate the twisted story:
“A vice president from the Cartier offices in London was involved in a fatal car crash. A fire ensued and the occupant along with his watch was caught up in the flames… “melting” the watch on his wrist, a Cartier Bagnoire Alongee, which is shaped like an elongated oval. The watch being melted and mangled took on the shape of a surrealistic watch from a Dali painting… Cartier found this “watch design” inspiring, and decided to introduce is as a new design, as a tribute to their fallen colleague.”
Cartier “Crash”/”Dali” watches are rare, though they had a few runs: first in the 1960s, 300 18K gold pieces were made in 1991, a special platinum edition was made in 1993, and Cartier re-released the “Crash” watch as a ladies’ diamond dress watch. The last edition of the Cartier “Crash”/”Dali” watch comes in 18K yellow, white, or rose gold. The rose gold “Crash” watch is the most choice: it’s set with rare, rose diamonds. Even if you can find one, the rose gold Cartier “Crash” watch retailed for $73,000…
03.Nov.2009, 03:41 pm
wow, i think it’s amazing (along with most of the items featured on your blogs)! it’s just a matter of money….
08.Jul.2011, 09:03 am
I just found your article on the Crash watch – I find it interestion that I have a limited edition model of the Crash # 332/400.
I purchased the watch from Cartier in NY 1992
…so limited edition of 300 vs 400. I contacted Cartier but they said they couldn’t explain the difference as to how many were produced because it is out of production ??