First Series
Crash (Cartier London) — First Series
Cases by Wright & Davies. The first-series dial has a softer “London” script with a more upright stem on the “L”, and uses IV rather than the IIII seen on some later watches. Case and “melted” deployant clasp carry matching numbers, London hallmarks and the “JC” mark. Documented 1970 examples: case 9526, 43 × 24 mm, cal. 841; and one with clasp no. 9’658 and cal. K840.
No two early pieces are identical. Fewer than a dozen are believed to have been made in the initial series.
Identifying details
- “London” dial
Dial signed “Cartier London” or with “London” at six o’clock.
- “JC” maker’s mark
Case or clasp punched “JC” for Jacques Cartier, the mark found on Cartier London pieces.
- Exploded Roman numerals
Roman numerals stretched or distorted radially to follow an elongated or irregular dial.
- London hallmarks
Case assayed and hallmarked in London (with date letter), as on Cartier London watches.
- Cabochon crown
Winding crown set with a cabochon, typically a blue sapphire.
- Deployant buckle
Folding deployant clasp on the strap.
Variants of (Cartier London)
Reference overview →| Variant | Production |
|---|---|
| First SeriesCurrent | 1967–? |
| First Series · First Year (1967) | 1967 |
| Later London Series (late 1980s) | c. 1986–c. 1990 |
| Later London Series (late 1980s) · 1987 Revival | 1987 |
Case & movement
- Reference
- No reference number
- Production
- 1967–?
- Case material
- 18k yellow gold
- Movement
- Manual winding
- Date
- No
- Caliber
- LeCoultre K840 — 1970 example, Sotheby's 2021
- Jaeger-LeCoultre 841 — 1970 example, Phillips NY SEVEN
Dial, bezel & hands
- Dial colour
- White / cream
Movement
Read more
- Wright & Davies (glossary)Read more at The Cartiers (Francesca Cartier Brickell) (opens in a new tab)
- A Collector’s Guide to the Cartier CrashRead more at Sotheby's (opens in a new tab)
- The Evolution of the Cartier Crash WatchRead more at Sotheby's (opens in a new tab)
- The Cartier CrashRead more at Phillips (opens in a new tab)