Across the past five years of Watches & Wonders, one of my personal highlights has always been discovering the latest Cartier Privé collection. If you’re unfamiliar, that’s Cartier’s annual series of watches inspired by archival models that are not part of their standard collections. It’s often a mix of heritage throwbacks and mechanical exceptions. For 2026, the highlight of the Privé series has to be the Cartier Privé Crash Squelette in platinum, which we have been hands-on with.
The Cartier Crash is one of the peak trendy watches at the moment, though that isn’t particularly surprising as it has been one of the most enduringly popular watches since its inception in the 60s. In fact, a 1987 edition of the watch recently broke the all-time Cartier auction record, selling for HK$15,616,000 (approx. US$1.99 million / £1.48 million). Part of what makes it so popular is its rarity. It was produced in its original workshop for less than 10 years and since 1976 has been predominantly produced through special orders and the Privé line.
Picking up the Cartier Privé Crash Squelette, the first thing that strikes you is of course that iconic asymmetrical case. It measures 45.34mm length x 25.18mm width with a 12.97mm thickness, which makes it a much larger watch than you might expect. It has a big presence on the wrist instead of the almost waifish, surrealist impression you’d think a ‘damaged’ design would have. Of course, there is nothing actually damaged here as the asymmetrical shape was designed with intention – stories about it being based on a watch that went through a car crash are apocryphal.
The magic of the Crash is that despite its uneven shape, lopsided crown and seemingly random curves, it wears like a completely normal watch. The recessed lugs and specially angled strap mean that it sits flat against the wrist and is as comfortable as any other dress watch. The cabochon crown is as easy to use as any regular tank.
What makes this edition of the Crash particularly special is that it’s made from platinum with a skeleton display. The platinum gives the metal that signature high sheen lustre that’s a touch brighter than white gold, though the difference is largely imperceptible unless you have them next to each other. But there’s something that feels extra special about having one of the most iconic watches presented in the most precious metal – especially as platinum is notoriously difficult to shape and work with and the Crash’s design isn’t exactly conducive to it being easy to produce.
For the skeleton display, it really lets you appreciate just how extreme the architecture of the movement has to be in order to accommodate the shape of the case. Everything is warped and shifted into odd off-centre angles. In order to make the skeleton display work, the bridges that hold the movement in place have been completely reshaped into Roman numerals, pulling double duty as not only bridges but also the primary hour markers. The movement itself is the manual winding 1967 MC.
I’m trying not to put the Crash on a pedestal just because it’s popular. But at the same time, it’s a watch that feels like it deserves to be on a pedestal because it’s the closest watch to being a work of art in and of itself. Brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre are masters of putting artwork on their watches through collections like the recent Hokusai models, but the Crash is a self-contained functional sculpture.
Price and Specs:
More details at Cartier.
