The Crash Skeleton Caliber 9618MC by Cartier: love at first sight

Rumor has it that the timepiece was born when a client visited the director of the Cartier offices in London with a watch that had had an accident. That was the inspiration to create a watch in the same spirit to nourish the idea that Cartier's creativity knew no bounds. The result is an atypical horological gem, a time-telling instrument that might well have been inspired by the gooey watches painted by Dali. The model fascinated those who saw it by the way it deconstructed form. As such, it recalls why Cartier has often been referred to as a watchmaker of shapes. This is probably why this year, Cartier decided to present this icon in a manner that goes well beyond what the brand might have done with it.

Style and more

What the technical teams at La Chaux-de-Fonds managed to do is adapt the manually wound mechanical caliber to the strict limitations of form. It is something of a world premiere, and it does prove, after all, that technology today can make such exerccises possible. Today, the Crash Watch by Cartier is equipped with a manually wound caliber made in-house. Reference number 9618MC, to be precise, and its mainplate and bridges have been skeletonized as much as possible. On the plate side, they now form a grid of Roman numerals, which not only permit easy reading, but also attract the eye. This daring piece with strong dimensions (45.32 mm x 28.15 mm) is considered a unisex piece. It was manufactured in platinum to guarantee a flagship position for the year. And it is ready to take off: with its individually mouth-blown mineral glass and suggestive curves, this piece is worn on an alligator strap and reveals itself, majestically, as a perfectly self-sufficient work of art.