The most expensive Cartier watch ever sold is a one-of-one white gold Cheich, which fetched about $3.41 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in September 2026. It beat the Cartier record set only five months earlier by a London Crash at about $1.99 million. This list ranks the ten highest auction prices for Cartier watches we could document, as of October 2026.
| Rank | Item | Price (USD) | Sale date | Sold at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cartier Cheich, white gold, one of one | About $3.41 million (HK$26.52M hammer) | September 2026 | Sotheby’s Hong Kong |
| 2 | Cartier London Crash, yellow gold, 1987 | About $1.99 million (HK$15.6M) | April 2026 | Sotheby’s Hong Kong, Important Watches |
| 3 | Cartier London Crash, 1967 | About $1.5 million | May 2022 | Loupe This (online) |
| 4 | Cartier Cheich Montre Bracelet, 1983 | About $1.2 million (EUR 1,003,000) | September 2022 | Auction (house not stated in our source) |
| 5 | Cartier Crash, yellow gold, c. 1970 | About $860,000 | November 2021 | Auction (house not stated in our source) |
| 6 | Cartier London Asymmetric, yellow gold, c. 1973 to 1974 | About $849,000 (HK$6.66M) | April 2026 | Sotheby’s Hong Kong |
| 7 | Cartier Tank Asymetrique, c. 1992 | About $751,000 (HK$5.89M) | April 2026 | Sotheby’s Hong Kong |
| 8 | Cartier Crash, yellow gold, c. 1989 | About $750,000 | November 2022 | Auction (house not stated in our source) |
| 9 | Cartier Tank J.J.C. Allongee, c. 1992 | About $735,000 (HK$5.76M) | April 2026 | Sotheby’s Hong Kong |
| 10 | Cartier Octagonal, c. 1972 to 1973 | About $686,000 (HK$5.38M) | April 2026 | Sotheby’s Hong Kong |
1. Cartier Cheich, white gold, one of one: About $3.41 million (HK$26.52M hammer)
Cartier made this quartz Cheich in 2010 for a collector, one of five known Cheich watches and the only one with a presentation box and certificate marked No. 1 of 1. It beat the previous Cartier auction record by more than $1.4 million.
How we valued it: Total with fees as reported by two sources; the hammer price was HK$26,520,000.
2. Cartier London Crash, yellow gold, 1987: About $1.99 million (HK$15.6M)
Believed to be one of three London Crash watches commissioned in 1987, with a melted case and distorted dial. It was estimated at HK$3.2M to HK$6M and went after a bidding battle of about nine minutes. It was the Cartier record for five months.
How we valued it: Price with premium, from the auction result as reported.
3. Cartier London Crash, 1967: About $1.5 million
An early London Crash, sold for almost double its high estimate. It took the Cartier record from a Crash sold at Sotheby’s Geneva.
How we valued it: Reported price from an online sale.
4. Cartier Cheich Montre Bracelet, 1983: About $1.2 million (EUR 1,003,000)
A unique yellow gold trophy watch made for the rally rider Gaston Rahier. It had never been sold commercially.
How we valued it: Price as listed in a Cartier auction ranking.
5. Cartier Crash, yellow gold, c. 1970: About $860,000
An earlier London-made Crash, one of the cases that helped build the model’s cult following.
How we valued it: Price from a roundup of Cartier results.
6. Cartier London Asymmetric, yellow gold, c. 1973 to 1974: About $849,000 (HK$6.66M)
A rare enamel example with an experimental geometric case.
How we valued it: Price from the Cartier ranking; same April 2026 sale as the Crash.
7. Cartier Tank Asymetrique, c. 1992: About $751,000 (HK$5.89M)
A white gold reinterpretation of the 1936 Asymmetrique, possibly three made.
How we valued it: Price from the Cartier ranking.
8. Cartier Crash, yellow gold, c. 1989: About $750,000
A later London Crash with slightly refined case lines.
How we valued it: Price from the Cartier ranking.
9. Cartier Tank J.J.C. Allongee, c. 1992: About $735,000 (HK$5.76M)
An elongated white gold Tank, possibly three made.
How we valued it: Price from the Cartier ranking.
10. Cartier Octagonal, c. 1972 to 1973: About $686,000 (HK$5.38M)
An architectural octagonal case that still has its original matching deployant buckle.
How we valued it: Price from the Cartier ranking.
Records set in 2025 and 2026
- April 2026: the London Crash broke the Cartier record, and a 1973 London Baignoire and a 1967 London Tank Normale also set records at the same sale, which totalled $52.9 million.
- September 2026: the Cheich pushed the record to about $3.41 million.
What drives these prices
- Rarity. Several of the top watches are one of a handful made, or one of one.
- London production. Cartier’s London workshop made the oddest shapes, and collectors chase them.
- Estimates that miss. The Crash went for more than twice its high estimate, a sign of how thin the supply is.
- Hong Kong. Both 2026 records landed in the same city, Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
Where to buy
FAQ
What is the most expensive Cartier watch ever sold?
A one-of-one white gold Cartier Cheich, which sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in September 2026 for about $3.41 million including fees.
What was the record before that?
A 1987 yellow gold London Crash, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in April 2026 for about $1.99 million.
Why are Crash watches so valuable?
Few were made, the melted-clock look is unmistakable, and collectors treat the London-made versions as the original. That is our read of the market.
Are the ranked watches the most expensive Cartiers new?
No. This list is about auction sales. Retail prices for current models are far lower.
Which entry sold in the most recent sale?
The Cheich, in September 2026.
What is the cheapest watch on this list?
The Cartier Octagonal, at about $686,000.
How we put this list together
We ranked watches by auction price, using house results and trade reports compiled in an internal valuation model. Prices are approximate, mix hammer and with-fee figures, and change as reports are revised.
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Last updated: October 2026.
