Sotheby's Auctions Largest-Ever Vintage Cartier Watch Collection

The $15 million+ grouping features rare, experimental London-made models from the 1960s and 1970s.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:06am

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A photorealistic studio still-life photograph of a vintage Cartier watch with a distorted, melted case design, resting on a clean, monochromatic background and using dramatic lighting to conceptually represent the abstract and unconventional nature of this rare timepiece.A rare, experimental Cartier watch design from the brand's most creative period highlights the growing demand for vintage Cartier among discerning collectors.Geneva Today

Sotheby's is auctioning the largest-ever collection of vintage Cartier watches, featuring over 300 timepieces expected to fetch more than $15 million across sales in Hong Kong, Geneva, and New York throughout 2026. The collection was curated by a single anonymous collector over 25 years and focuses on Cartier's most adventurous and unconventional case shapes, particularly from the brand's experimental London workshop between 1967-1974.

Why it matters

Vintage Cartier has become a highly coveted collector's category, with connoisseurship and rarity driving prices higher than pure brand recognition. This unprecedented collection offers a rare opportunity to acquire some of Cartier's most unique and limited-production models from its most experimental period.

The details

The headline lot is a 1987 yellow-gold Cartier London Crash, estimated at $400,000-$800,000 and believed to be one of only three produced that year. Other highlights include a 10-sided Decagonal from 1970-71 (one of only five known), an Asymétrique with a blue enamel dial from 1973-74, a Tank Asymétrique in white gold, and a curved Driver's watch from 1966-67.

  • The first offering takes place at Sotheby's Hong Kong on April 24, 2026.
  • Additional lots will be sold at Sotheby's Geneva on May 10, 2026 and Sotheby's New York on June 15, 2026.
  • The auction will continue through December 2026.

The players

Sotheby's

An international auction house and the organizer of this vintage Cartier watch collection sale.

Jean-Jacques Cartier

The director of Cartier's London workshop from 1967-1974, who oversaw the production of the brand's most experimental case designs during that period.

Rupert Emmerson

The designer who collaborated with Jean-Jacques Cartier to create the iconic Cartier Crash watch in 1967.

Francesca Cartier Brickell

The author of "The Cartiers", a book that revealed the true origins of the Cartier Crash design.

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What’s next

The full catalog of over 300 vintage Cartier watches will be available on Sotheby's website, and interested bidders can register to participate in the auctions taking place in Hong Kong, Geneva, and New York throughout 2026.

The takeaway

This unprecedented collection of rare and experimental vintage Cartier watches represents a unique opportunity for serious collectors to acquire some of the brand's most coveted and limited-production models from its most creative period.