Christie's has set a new milestone in the luxury watch world after selling the most expensive Cartier watch ever auctioned.
During its “Rare Watches” auction in Geneva, Christie’s generated more than $42 million in total sales, making it the company’s highest-performing watch auction to date. The standout item was a rare 1990 Cartier “London Crash” watch, which sold for over $2 million after intense bidding.
The watch, known for its unusual distorted shape and artistic design, was made from 18K gold and included original Cartier London markings, rare hallmarks, and its original clasp. The final sale price reached approximately $2.03 million, far exceeding pre-sale estimates and setting a new global record for the Cartier Crash model.
The sale also surpassed a previous Cartier Crash auction record that had been set by Sotheby's just weeks earlier.
Although the Cartier piece made headlines, the most expensive watch sold during the event was an ultra-rare F.P. Journe Platinum Tourbillon Souverain. The watch sold for more than $3.1 million after a fierce bidding battle between collectors.
Several other high-profile luxury watches also achieved massive prices during the auction. A limited-edition Tiffany Blue® Patek Philippe Nautilus sold for over $1.6 million, while a rare Audemars Piguet chronograph set another world record with a sale close to $2.75 million.
Collectors also showed strong interest in independent watchmakers, with brands like A. Lange & Söhne, Daniel Roth, and Krayon attracting major bids.
Christie’s said the auction had a 99% sell-through rate, showing continued strong demand for rare and collectible timepieces despite the already soaring prices in the luxury watch market.
