In recent years, the value of Cartier’s iconic vintage watches in the global auction market is increasing day by day. At the beginning of this year, the Crash watch, launched in 1967 in Cartier replica London through Loupe This, an only watch auction platform, was sold for a whopping $1.65 million (USD), or about 2.36 billion won based on the current exchange rate. It has set a new world auction record in history. This is twice as high as the previous Sotheby’s auction in Geneva in 2021, showing the high interest and affection of watch collectors for the Cartier Crash.
And at the 8th Geneva Watch Auction XIII of Philips held in May 2021, Cartier’s original Pebble-shaped watch made in 1972 was priced at 400,000 or more than the original estimate. At 3,200 Swiss francs (CHF), based on the current exchange rate, it was sold at about 570 million won, surprising auction officials. In the case of the aforementioned Crash, the case shape itself is so unique, and if the ransom was high while being selected by some superstars such as Jay-Z and Kanye West, the auction result is even more impressive in that the Pebble is a relatively less well-known model. It was surprising.
It is because of their incredible rarity that the Pebble-Shaped Watch has received such unprecedented attention. Set in London, England in the 1960s and 1970s, which was full of creative and dynamic energy enough to be called ‘Swinging London’, Cartier has a unique time that differentiates it from other watch shapes such as the 1967 Crash and 1969 Maxi Oval. Pieces were presented one after another. The Pebble Watch, introduced in 1972, is a prime example. Pebble replica watches were produced in very small quantities for each gold material through Cartier London in the early 1970s, so there are not many watches handed down to this day. Small women’s pebble watches have been exhibited in the past by Christie and others, but larger men’s pebble watches are even harder to find. The fact that it won a record-breaking bid at the last Philips auction is understandable when you consider this history.
The introduction was long. Cartier recently created and announced a special limited edition, a modern and faithful reproduction of the original Pebble Watch from 1972 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pebble Watch. In a way, it is in a similar vein to the release of a limited edition to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tank Santre last year. From several years ago, models that reinterpreted iconic designs of the past, such as Crash, Tank Centré, Tank Asimetrik, Tank Chinoise, Tono, and Cloche, were classified into Cartier Privé or general lines and continued to develop. As a reminder, the return of the Pebble Watch isn’t all that new.
At first glance, the Pebble-Shaped Watch, revived in 2022, is almost indistinguishable from the original model from the 1970s. The voluminous round 36mm yellow gold case lives up to its name meaning ‘pebble’, while a brown calfskin strap integrated inside the case without protruding lugs accentuates the distinctive elegant design. On the other hand, the dial was also treated as a square. It inherits another iconic shape like the Santos. Because of the unique shape of a circle and a square, it is also called ‘Baseball’ in English and American countries (it was named because it resembles the base of a baseball field).
Along with the rhombic railroad minute track, the iconic black Roman indexes from the Cartier fake watches collection are beautifully printed on the outside. It subtly reveals its presence. Meanwhile, the Roman numerals at 7 o’clock also reveal the Maison’s own secret signature. The movement is equipped with the ultra-thin Manufacture manual caliber 430 MC, and the sapphire cabochon crown can be operated to set the winding and time.
The newly reborn Pebble-Shaped Watch is a limited edition of only 150 pieces, and is expected to be in stock in very small quantities in Korea (the exact release schedule and price are undecided). If you are interested in an ‘extremely rare’ vintage-styled Cartier iconic watch that is hard to find, please inquire at Cartier Maison Cheongdam (Tel. 1877-4326), which was re-opened last month.