Brand comparisons usually run on opinion. This one runs on settled transactions: 1,599 recorded sales of Cartier and 466 of Breitling, all in US dollars so the figures are directly comparable.
What each one actually costs
The median Cartier result is $6,875. The median Breitling result is $3,360. On typical examples, Cartier carries roughly 2.0 times the price of Breitling at auction.
Half of all Cartier sales land between $3,250 and $15,360. For Breitling the middle half runs $2,048 to $5,625.
Which one surprises the specialists
51% of Cartier lots beat their high estimate, against 33% for Breitling. That gap says the trade is more often caught out by Cartier, which is a sign of demand outrunning the published guide.
Breadth of the record
Our archive covers 436 distinct Cartier references and 156 for Breitling, with results going back to 2001 and 2001 respectively. The top recorded result is $1,654,276 for Cartier and $82,600 for Breitling.
What this does not tell you
A median is not a verdict. These brands overlap heavily at the edges, and a well chosen example of the cheaper one will outrun a poor example of the dearer one. Condition, completeness and model matter more than the badge on the dial.
