Tank
A hundred years, one line
The Tank is not a watch with a strap, but a continuous design: the case's brancards run without interruption into the strap. This single idea has carried dozens of variants for over a hundred years.
The evolution of the Tank
In 1917 Louis Cartier designed the Tank, inspired by the aerial view of a Renault tank on the Western Front. The first examples went on sale in 1919.
1922 brought the Tank Louis Cartier and Tank Cintrée, followed in 1928 by the Tank Américaine as an elongated interpretation. Each variant altered the proportions without touching the underlying principle.
The Tank was worn by Jackie Kennedy, Andy Warhol, Yves Saint Laurent and Muhammad Ali — making it one of the most culturally charged watches ever created.
1996 saw the Tank Française arrive with an integrated link bracelet, followed in 2017 by the more accessible Tank Must line, relaunched in 2021 with the SolarBeat movement.
- Case
- Rectangular, brancards flow into the strap
- Dial
- Roman numerals, chemin-de-fer minute track
- Hands
- Blued steel sword-shaped hands
- Crown
- Cabochon in blue spinel or sapphire
- Variants
- Louis Cartier, Américaine, Française, Must
- Movement
- Manual wind, automatic or SolarBeat
Key reference numbers at a glance
What to look for when buying
- 01
Vintage Tanks from the 1920s to 1970s form their own collecting field. Recent Cartier Privé editions have further boosted demand.
- 02
The dial is the critical point. Lacquered dials are sensitive to moisture; redials significantly reduce value.
- 03
On gold watches, the sharpness of the brancard edges is the best indicator of an unpolished case.
- 04
Look for the signature within the dial: Cartier has always concealed a tiny 'Cartier' inscription within one of the Roman numerals.
Cartier Tank at Predeluxe
Questions about Cartier Tank?
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