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Rare Cartier Watch Leads Record-Setting Sales at Sotheby’s

By Alexandria Sillo
Auctioneer at Sotheby's with two assistants, leading a watch auction with bid details displayed on a screen.
Sotheby's Important Watches sale. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s

A rare yellow-gold Cartier London Crash sold to a Japanese private collector for $2 million last week, making it the most valuable Cartier watch ever sold at Sotheby’s and a top highlight of a record-setting day for the auction house. In total, the Important Watches auction achieved $52.9 million, in part due to “The Shapes of Cartier: The Finest Vintage Grouping Ever Assembled,” which was an 82-piece collection of vintage timepieces, with each piece sold. Other notable achievements included a Patek Philippe single-button chronograph, which sold for $1.96 million, and an A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon Pour le Mérite, reference 701.007, which sold for $1.3 million.

Asymmetrical gold Cartier Crash watch on a brown strap, placed on layered paper resembling a topographic map.
Cartier London Crash, circa 1987. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s
Luxury Cartier wristwatch with a square blue and gold face, Roman numerals, and black leather strap on a beige surface.
Cartier London Asymmetric with blue enamel. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s

“We are thrilled to have achieved the highest total ever realized for a watch auction in Asia, with a series of world auction records set this evening, including new benchmarks for a Cartier wristwatch and the A. Lange Söhne Tourbillon Pour le Mérite, Reference 701.007,” said Joey Luk, Global Head of Watch Collections Sourcing & Sales, Sotheby’s. “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. With 97 percent of lots sold and more than half exceeding their high estimates, the result underscores the continued strength of the market and our leadership in the region.”

Patek Philippe vintage wristwatch with a gold case, white dial, brown leather strap, and moon phase display on a beige background.
A Patek Philippe single-button chronograph made in 1924 and retailed by Tiffany & Co. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s
Luxury blue-faced wristwatch from Sotheby's auction with silver details and leather strap displayed against a neutral background.
A. Lange Söhne Tourbillon Pour le Mérite, Reference 701.007. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s

The record-setting Cartier London Crash sparked a nine-minute bidding battle between collectors on the phone, online, and in the room, with the final sale price more than double its presale estimate. The timepiece was produced in 1987 and is believed to be one of only three produced that year. Other notable Cartier sales included two Tank models and an unusual yellow gold Cartier London Asymmetric with blue enamel, which sold for more than 10 times its presale estimate.  

 “From start to finish, this sale was a celebration of the very best in horological collecting,” said Sam Hines, Global Chairman, Watches, Sotheby’s. “It has been a privilege to bring this exceptional vintage Cartier collection to market and to witness the extraordinary enthusiasm and competition it inspired, creating a truly eclectic atmosphere in the salesroom. We look forward with great anticipation to presenting the next tranche of this historic collection in Geneva this May and New York in June.”