$15 million record vintage Cartier watch collection to be sold by Sotheby’s

A 300-piece vintage Cartier watch collection is to be sold by Sotheby’s, starting this Spring.

With a total estimate of $15 million, Sotheby’s plans to disperse Important Watch sales across Hong Kong, Geneva and New York this year.

The auction, titled ‘The Shapes of Cartier: A Dream Collection of Vintage Timepieces,’ marks one of the biggest Cartier offers in history.

The collection spans Cartier’s most sought-after models including the Crash, Santos, Bagnoire, Pebble, specialised Tank variations, among others. According to Forbes, the anonymous collector spent around 25 years assembling the collection from mainly Paris, New York, and London branches.

Highlights include a circa 1987 Cartier Crash with its original gold deployment buckle. Believed to be only one of three pieces made that year, the design is estimated at $400,000–$800,000 and will be on offer for the Hong Kong market.

Other standouts include a rare 1992 Tank: a white gold asymmetrical wristwatch with blue numerals. One of the most iconic Cartier designs, the piece sits at around $60,000–$80,000.

“The appeal of vintage Cartier lies in its ability to capture a moment in design history while remaining entirely timeless,” said Sam Hines, global chairman of Sotheby’s Watches.

“This collection is remarkable not only for its breadth, but for its depth — particularly in its unprecedented assembly of Cartier London pieces, many of which are among the most important examples ever to appear on the market.”

The collection will be offered in Hong Kong on 24 April, in Geneva on 10 May and finally in New York on 15 June.