A Rare and Limited Production Gold Asymmetrical Wristwatch, Cartier, London, 'Crash', 1986

18k, oval nickel lever movement, glucydur balance, 18 jewels, adjusted to 13 positions, silvered matte dial, exaggerated Roman numerals, blued steel hands, long asymmetrical case, the case hallmarked, London 1986, cabochon sapphire-set crown, back secured by four screws in the band, case, dial and movement signed with London hallmarks for 1986, with 18k gold Cartier deployant buckle.

For an example of a Crash watch from the 1960s, see Barracca, Negretti & Nencini, Le Temps de Cartier, p.295.

The Crash model was first introduced in 1967, inspired in part by the paintings of melting clocks by Salvador Dali - only here it is presumed to be a melting Cartier Bagnoire Alongee.

The present example is rather rare in that it was made in a limited production of possibly fewer than 10 examples in 1986 as a re-issue of the original model. 

The series would later be re-issued again in 1991 and would be signed Cartier, Paris.