Cartier Cheich
A rare Cartier Cheich wristwatch, originally conceived as a prize for the Dakar Rally, has set a new record, selling for US$3.38 million at a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong. This sale makes it the most valuable Cartier watch and the most valuable quartz watch ever sold publicly, underscoring the enduring demand for distinctive Cartier form watches.
- Sold for US$3.38 million
- Most valuable Cartier watch ever sold publicly
- Most valuable quartz watch ever sold publicly
The Cheich was originally designed as a prize for winners of the Dakar Rally when sponsored by Cartier, with its design inspired by the rally's emblem of a Tuareg tribesman.
Four original Cheich watches were made in yellow gold, with recipients including Thierry Sabine, founder of the Paris Dakar Cartier Challenge, and rally winner Gaston Rahier.
The white gold Cheich that set the record was commissioned by Giorgio Seragnoli, an heir to an Italian packaging dynasty and former owner of a large Cartier timepiece collection.
The watch sold for HK$26.5 million with fees, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of HK$8.0-40 million (US$1.0-5.0 million).