Now, the only real Cartier Crash dupe is to take a Baignoire into the flames and bash it with a hammer. But you don’t want that, do you? You don’t even really want a Cartier Crash alternative. No, mon chéri. You my dear are a cultured, worldly wise individual — perhaps a fan of the late Salvador Dalí. One of discernment and good taste. You want a surrealist representation of the inevitability—and ultimately, meaninglessness—of the passing of time. A refined statement about the artificial construct of time residing on your wrist. You mightn’t want to remortgage the house to get it, but you are no petty duper my friend. For that reason, you won’t find any 1:1 ‘reps’—let’s call them what they are: fakes—courtesy of AliExpress and DHgate here.
For those intent on capturing the surrealist mood and asymmetrical aesthetic of the Cartier Crash without resorting to unethical replicas, you’re in luck.
While undeniably the maker of the most preeminent asymmetrical watch, Monsieur Cartier does not have sovereignty over the entire product category. That said, the design of the Cartier Crash is so iconic that, unlike rectangular or oval-shaped watches, most other established watchmakers and manufactures have shied away from creating their own wavy asymmetrical timepieces for fear of seeming derivative.
Of course, there are well-known asymmetrical timepieces like the Rolex King Midas, Hamilton Ventura, and Audemars Piguet [Re]master02, as well as releases from microbrands such as the Toledano & Chan B/1 and Anoma A1, but—while striking—these lack the same trippy, “time is just a construct,” vibe of the Cartier Crash. While we’ve discussed those asymmetrical watches (and more) here, what makes the Crash special is its curvilinear, organic lines and the fact that the asymmetry carries through to the dial, lending it a distorted effect akin to that expressed by Dalí in The Persistence of Memory.
Fortunately, there are a few brands that eschew symmetry and capture the avant-garde zeitgeist of the surrealist movement without encroaching on the Cartier Crash’s design language.
Herewith, the best Cartier Crash alternatives for lovers of surrealism and asymmetrical design.
1. Laphont Melting Watch
Cheekily proclaiming to be “inspired by the Salvador Dalí painting and absolutely nothing else,” (believe watches!), the Laphont Melting Watch is a satisfyingly distorted asymmetrical watch. Leaning into the aesthetic of the soft watches depicted in The Persistence of Memory, the roman numerals follow the lines of the case while the oversized studded crown gives it a unique look. The Laphont Melting Watch comes in both large and small sizes, meaning there’s something for every wrist.
Price: $171AUD
Model: Melting Watch
Case size: 40mm x 21mm (small); 46mm x 24mm (large)
Movement: Japanese Miyota (quartz)
Water resistance: N/A
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
2. Laphont Square Melting Watch
Another option from Laphont, the Square Melting Watch looks more like a Tank that’s been through the ringer than something painted by Dalí, but it’s a distinctive design that doesn’t look like anything else on the market. Its square(ish) proportions make it feel a little more understated than the Classic Melting watch, while still being a statement piece.
Price: $171AUD
Model: Square Melting Watch
Case size: 26.75mm x 34.5mm (small); 36mm x 38mm (large)
Movement: Japanese Miyota (quartz)
Water resistance: N/A
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
3. Exaequo Melting Watch
A Swiss watch brand with the ability to lay some claim to the surrealist watch movement, Exaequo began producing its Softwatch in 1990, inspired by Salvador Dalí’s work. Unfortunately, the brand flew too close to the sun, using Dalí’s signature without permission on the dials and subsequently being sued by the late artist’s estate, leading to Exaequo ceasing all production. Fortunately, the brand was revived in 2024, with its Melting Watch boasting the same fluid, misshapen clock form as the original Softwatch (sans illicit signature).
Price: $550CHF
Model: Melting Watch
Case size: 47mm x 28mm
Movement: Ronda 751-1 (quartz)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
4. Exaequo Revolve Melting Watch
While the brand’s classic Melting Watch stays true to its original design from the 1990s, the newer Revolve leans a little…Crashier, thanks to its pinched form and pointy ends.
Price: $700CHF
Model: Revolve Melting Watch
Case size: 51.2mm x 33mm
Movement: Ronda 762-AJG3 (quartz)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
5. Pascal Paradoxe Diamond Watch
Intended to capture the fluidity of time, the Pascal Paradoxe Diamond Watch has a similar silhouette to the Cartier Crash but switches it up with a chunkier case profile with a hammered texture. Distorted Arabic numerals, lab-grown diamonds that echo the distinctive case silhouette in the middle, and a logo detail on the folding clasp round out this design-led offering.
Price: $465USD
Model: Paradoxe Diamond Watch
Case size: 44mm x 30mm
Movement: Ronda 751 (quartz)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
6. D1 Milano Drop Essence
One of the best Cartier Crash alternatives for the very fact that it’s not trying to be a Cartier Crash alternative, the D1 Milano Drop Essence is inspired by the fluid, organic shape of a water droplet. Its soft, unbroken lines and continuous form coupled with an oversized bezel that curves outwards to seamlessly join the integrated bracelet, the Drop Essence is a lovely nature-inspired take on an asymmetrical watch. Its 23mm case size makes it one of the smaller timepieces on this list, allowing it to wear more like a piece of jewellery than a watch.
Price: $605AUD
Model: Drop Essence
Case size: 23mm
Movement: Miyota GL22 (quartz)
Water resistance: 5ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: N/A
7. Laarvee Watch
While the brand cites the surrealist movement and The Persistence of Memory, and a desire to “express a unique and authentic connection” in horological form as inspiration, there’s no denying that the Laarvee Watch looks like a Rolex Submariner that’s been through the wringer. Quite possible the only asymmetrical timepiece with a dive watch aesthetic (and we use the word ‘aesthetic’ here, as that fixed bezel and 30-metre water resistance certainly isn’t fit for timing dives) and a date window, there’s something rather endearing about the Laarvee Watch’s distorted form — like a hapless former footballer watching the game from the stands.
Price: $519USD
Model: Laarvee Watch
Case size: 45mm x 40mm
Movement: Miyota (automatic)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
Power reserve: 40 hours
8. Berneron Mirage
Sitting on the pointy end of the price spectrum, the Berneron Mirage is almost as difficult to get your hands on as the Cartier Crash. While it’ll inevitably draw comparisons to the Crash, the Mirage has solidified a unique design language of its own. Designed from the movement outwards, the delicate asymmetrical contours of the pebble-shaped case follow the lines of the specially designed calibre 233, a hand-wound movement with full gold construction. While still legible, the asymmetry extends to the dial, with a lightly warped small seconds subdial and hour and minute hands contributing to the surrealist aesthetic.
Price: $65,000CHF
Model: Mirage Sienna
Case size: 34mm x 38mm
Movement: 233 (hand-wound)
Water resistance: 3ATM
Functions: hours, minutes
Power reserve: 72 hours
Enjoyed this article on the best Cartier Crash alternatives? Check out our watch guides here; covering everything from the types of watch movements to watch styles and complications.
Words by Theo Rosen
