Cartier Crash

It dates back to the 1960s in London, where a Cartier executive named Jean-Jacques Cartier was involved in a severe car accident. The crash was so severe that the resulting fire melted the watch he was wearing, a Cartier Baignoire Allongée.

Jean-Jacques Cartier survived the accident, and the damaged watch was brought back to Cartier's workshop in Paris. Rather than restoring or discarding the timepiece, the deformed and twisted shape caught the attention of the Cartier designers. They were captivated by its unconventional and artistic beauty, considering it an accidental work of art.

Inspired by the distorted shape of the crashed watch, Cartier decided to create a new timepiece that replicated its unique form. The resulting watch, known as the Cartier Crash, was first introduced in 1967. It featured a distinctive asymmetrical and irregular case shape, mimicking the twisted and contorted appearance of the damaged watch.