Pre-Owned

Cartier Crash Diamonds

40950269/AS09496
View Specs
Regular price $237,850
Analog:Shift Two-Year Warranty
Watching being review by technician under magnification

Each pre-owned timepiece is back by a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase by Analog:Shift. Prior to sale, every watch is serviced and maintained as needed by our team of expert watchmakers to ensure it is functioning as intended and running within acceptable gain/loss tolerances.

The warranty does not cover damage resulting from accidents, misuse, abuse, unauthorized modifications or repairs, or tampering by third parties. It is non-transferable.

Please keep in mind that these products are vintage and pre-owned, often with decades of history and wear. Exclusions apply.

Analog:Shift Two-Year Warranty

Analog:Shift Two-Year Warranty

Back by a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase
Authorized Luxury Retailer
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Renowned for expertise in luxury watch retail, Watches of Switzerland embodies the highest standards of craftsmanship and service. With a history dating back to the 1700s, the company offers a curated selection of premier timepieces and commits to excellence in customer experience grounded in a legacy of trust and industry proficiency.

Authorized Luxury Retailer

Authorized Luxury Retailer

We are an authorized retailer for over 80 luxury watch brands.
Free Expedited Delivery
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Free Expedited Delivery on Orders $100 and Up (Estimated 1-3 Days)

Our secure shipping service operates Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For security reasons, an adult signature is required for every delivery. Watches of Switzerland does not deliver to P.O. boxes or third-party forwarding services. For more information about delivery, click here. Tracking information will be made available upon shipping.

$15 Flat Fee on Orders Under $100 (Estimated 1 - 2 weeks)

Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information about delivery, click here. Tracking information will be made available upon shipping.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your order, please contact the Watches of Switzerland Client Services

Free Expedited Delivery

Free Expedited Delivery

We offer free, expedited delivery on all orders over $100.
Simple Easy Returns
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Our commitment to you does not end at delivery. We offer the following return services to make your experience as pleasant as possible.

10-Day Returns For Timepieces:

Timepieces purchased online can be returned or exchanged within 10 days from when they are shipped or collected.

30-Day Returns For All Other Purchases:

All other online purchases can be returned or exchanged within 30 days from when they are shipped or collected.

On presentation of the original receipt, your purchases may be returned or exchanged at any of our store locations. Alternatively, you may elect shipping to our facility with all the original paperwork. All refunds must be credited to the same tender used for the original purchase. To return the online purchases through secure shipping service, please contact our client service team who will provide you the shipping label.

All returns or exchanges must be in new, unworn condition, with no scratches or markings, not sized or adjusted and in their original packaging and with warranty cards / certificated and instruction booklets.

Simple Easy Returns

Simple Easy Returns

Purchase with confidence with our simple, free return policy.

Details

Since the introduction of the Crash in 1967, the elusive watch has enjoyed a special place in Cartier’s catalog, both extremely rare, and highly coveted. Until just a few years ago, the true story of the Crash was unknown. Dozens of legends emerged explaining the origins of this almost mythical design. Some claimed that the Crash was inspired by the paintings of Salvador Dali, a brilliant Spanish surrealist artist known for his eclectic paintings of melting watches with distorted, asymmetrical case shapes. Others suggested that the Crash was actually influenced by a destroyed Cartier Maxi Oval, tragically devastated by a fatal car fire.

Unfortunately for the more imaginative among us, the truth is quite a bit less exciting. The granddaughter of Jean-Jacques Cartier, Francesca Cartier Breckell, revealed that Jean-Jacques and famous designer Rupert Emerson wanted to modernize a Cartier design to suit the emerging psychedelic era of fashion and culture. The result was the Cartier Crash, a modified Maxi Oval. The Crash, with its asymmetrical, whimsical case design, flowing lines, and elegant incongruity has since become a cultural fascination. The mystery of the Crash certainly added a zero or two to the price tag, but at the end of the day, with soaring demand, Cartier had only made a few hundred pieces total. The Crash was always designed to be a rare gem for the distinguished few. A number of celebrities have owned the Crash, including Jay-Z, Kanye West, Timothee Chalamet, and Elton John.

This particular example is one of the rarest iterations of the Crash. Likely a special order from the Paris boutique in the 1990s, this watch features a pave case and diamond crown. As a result of the non-uniform geometry of the case, there are always diamonds catching the light from one of the many angles of the case. This makes this particular variant one of the most vibrant diamond-set watches on the market. The crown is also set with a diamond cabochon rather than the conventional blue sapphire. This piece is set on a brown strap and completed with a correct deployant clasp and comes with a Cartier box and matching certificate dating this piece to 1997.

The ultimate collector’s Cartier, owning a Crash will make you the envy of every Cartier collector in the world. These watches never last long before they’re snatched by Cartier geeks, so if you want one, speak now or forever hold your peace!

General

Condition

Pre-Owned

Brand

Cartier

Reference

40950269/AS09496

Product Code

40950269

Features

Manual winding

Case

Case Material

18Ct Yellow Gold

Movement

Type

Hand Wound

Bracelet

Type

Strap