Cartier, Paris

One of Maison's most iconic timepieces, the Cartier Crash, integrates the abstract essence of time into its asymmetrical casing. In its early years, Cartier London focused on retailing watches from Paris and Switzerland rather than crafting its own timepieces. This paradigm shifted during the dynamic 1960s when Jean-Jacques Cartier, the head of Cartier London, decided to embark on producing their own wristwatches. Born in 1967, the genesis of the Crash design is often associated with two prevailing theories. One attributes its inspiration to Salvador Dalí's famed 'Persistence of Memory,' particularly his melting clock, while the other suggests a connection to a deformed Cartier Baignoire case after a car accident. However, it was actually designed through the collaborative work of Jean-Jacques Cartier and the creative designer Rupert Emmerson.

In 1991, Cartier Paris unveiled its rendition of the Crash, presented as a limited series comprising 400 units in yellow gold and featuring a slightly smaller case than the original London version's 43 mm. This contemporary interpretation bears the inscription "Paris" on both the dial and the case-back. Additionally, the deployant buckle tailored for this series showcases an asymmetrical crash motif.