At $1.9 Million USD, This 1987 Cartier London Crash Is the Most Valuable Cartier Wristwatch Ever Auctioned

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Summary

  • The auction achieved the highest total ever realized for a watch sale at Sotheby’s and the most valuable watch auction ever held in Asia
  • A rare 1987 yellow-gold Cartier London “Crash” sold for approximately $2 million USD, setting a new record for the brand at auction
  • The “Shapes of Cartier” grouping achieved a 100% sell-through rate, totaling more than seven times its pre-sale estimate

Sotheby’s recent luxury watch auction in Hong Kong was a huge success, bringing in a record-breaking $414.2 million HKD (around $52.9 million USD). A major factor in this achievement was a remarkable collection of vintage Cartier watches – the largest and most complete ever offered at auction.

The highlight of the 13-hour auction was a rare Cartier London Crash watch from around 1987. Only three of these were likely made that year, and it sparked a fierce nine-minute bidding battle. A Japanese collector ultimately won the watch for HKD $15,616,000 (about $1,993,539 USD), confirming the Crash’s status as a landmark design. This sale reflects a growing trend, as noted by TopMob, where collectors are shifting their focus from popular sports watches to the bold, geometric designs of Cartier’s London collection from the late 1960s and 70s – a period known for its innovative style.

The “Shapes of Cartier” collection showcased exceptional craftsmanship, leading to record-breaking sales for two London Tank watches: the J.J.C. Allongée, which sold for around $730,000 USD, and the Normale, at approximately $587,000 USD. The 82-piece collection celebrated 100 years of innovation, demonstrating Cartier’s unique ability to continually reimagine the wristwatch.

Joey Luk, Sotheby’s Global Head of Watch Collections, announced that their recent Asian watch auction achieved a record-breaking total, the highest ever for a watch auction in the region. Several world auction records were set, including new prices for a Cartier wristwatch and an A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon Pour le Mérite. While Cartier watches were the main attraction, bidding was strong across both vintage and independently made timepieces. With 97% of items sold and over half surpassing their estimated prices, the results demonstrate the continued health of the watch market and Sotheby’s leading position in Asia.

The recent sale was a fantastic showcase of fine watch collecting. We were honored to offer this remarkable collection of vintage Cartier watches and were thrilled by the strong interest and competitive bidding it generated, creating a vibrant and diverse atmosphere. Sotheby’s Global Chairman of Watches, Sam Hines, stated they are excited to continue presenting further pieces from this historic collection in Geneva this May and New York in June.

More pieces from this remarkable collection will be featured in Sotheby’s “Important Watches” auctions in Geneva and New York in Spring 2026.

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2026-04-28 10:56