Subscribe
Subscribe
- Motoring
- Style
- Home & Design
- Travel
- Food & Drink
- Specials
- News & Tech
- Videos
For decades, collectors judged watches by what was inside them. Today, Cartier is reminding the watch world that sometimes the case matters just as much as the movement inside. From the surreal curves of the Cartier Crash to the elegance of the Tank Cintree, these most coveted creations aren't celebrated for technical complexity, they're prized because no one else has ever designed anything quite like them. That's why vintage Cartier continues to command record-breaking auction prices and why these references remain at the top of collectors' wish lists.
First created by Cartier London in 1967, its asymmetrical, melted case broke every convention of traditional watchmaking. Produced in extremely small numbers, original London-made examples have become some of the most desirable vintage Cartier watches ever sold, regularly achieving seven-figure auction results. For many collectors, the Crash isn't just a watch, it's wearable art.
Long before curved cases became fashionable, Cartier introduced the Tank Cintree in 1921. Its elongated silhouette gently hugs the wrist, making it one of the most elegant dress watches ever produced. Vintage examples, particularly those from Cartier London, are exceptionally difficult to find.
Few Cartier watches are as instantly recognisable as the London Pebble. Created in tiny numbers during the 1970s by Cartier London, its perfectly round case and square dial challenge almost every traditional design rule. That rarity, combined with its playful proportions, has transformed the Pebble into one of the most sought-after collector's pieces.
The Tank Asymetrique proves that even a classic can be reinvented. By rotating the dial within its rectangular case, Cartier created one of the most unconventional dress watches ever made. Originally introduced in the 1930s and later revived through the Cartier Prive collection, it has become a favourite among collectors who appreciate bold design over conventional symmetry.
Introduced in 1922, the original Tank was refined into the elegant template that still defines the collection today. While the Crash grabs headlines, the Tank Louis quietly remains one of the most important and enduring Cartier references, worn by style icons for more than a century.
The beauty of Cartier highlights the fact that it has never been about chasing the most complicated movement. It's about recognising a silhouette from across the room. Whether it's the sculptural Crash, the graceful Tank Cintree, or the timeless Tank Louis Cartier, these watches prove that great design doesn't age, it simply becomes more collectible.
