Tank

There are several icons among Cartier watches, one of the biggest is the Tank model, which is currently available, with minor changes, in seven smaller lines. The Tanks were designed by Louis Cartier, the grandson of the brand’s founder, who was behind the blossoming of watchmaking at this renowned establishment that otherwise specialises in jewellery. The first example, which was actually a prototype, was given to American General John Joseph Pershing as a gift. The watch was officially first launched in 1919 in the boutiques in Paris, then in London and New York, each one run by a different Cartier brother.

The case is rectangular in shape and has clean lines. The name refers to the MK I Tank, several timepieces in a row resemble the tracks left by this battle tank. Tanks became a celebration of life, a reminder of the war that had just ended. The dial with Roman numerals and an inner frame is reminiscent of the view of the centre of Paris, built by Baron Haussmann, with its wide boulevards leading from the Arc de Triomphe, as seen from a bird’s eye view. Nor should we omit the artistic styles of belle époque, secession and art deco, which strongly influenced production at the time.

Most popular models

Cartier Tank Must WSTA0041
94,000 Kč
In stock
Reservation
Cartier Tank Must de Cartier Watch WSTA0071
89,500 Kč
In stock
0 pcs
Cartier Tank Française W4TA0021
267,000 Kč
In stock
0 pcs
Cartier Tank Must Watch Small W4TA0016
164,000 Kč
In stock
Reservation

Something more..

Tank wristwatches, which still come in women’s and men’s designs, have been worn by many famous personalities. Its aficionados include American actor Gary Cooper, the late Princess Diana and former First Lady of America Michelle Obama. When you come to view the watch, notice the secret Cartier inscription on the foot of the Roman numeral VII.


 

Tank MUST

Revived in 2021, the collection will gradually replace the Tank Solo line. The watches are fitted with easily interchangeable straps. Selected models are available with colourful straps that are free of animal substances. They are made from recycled material (apples) and leave a significantly smaller carbon footprint during production than leather straps. The collection also includes timepieces that have an incredibly long battery life: their battery is estimated to last up to 16 years. Their blued hands and Roman numerals absorb solar energy and transmit it to the movement, i.e. to the solar device located under the dial. Perhaps the most striking are the monochrome versions in burgundy, bottle green and blue. These shades were already famous in 1977, when they were first introduced. Now, as in the past, they are among the most popular with the clients. 

Tank Anglaise

The line was introduced in 2012. This interpretation of the original watch preserves its purist DNA, such as Roman numerals, an inner guilloche frame or the blue gem on the crown. This time the crown has been cleverly integrated into the case and is partially protected. The case has fuller lines and the dial’s proportions have lent it a more rectangular feel. The watch is fitted with both mechanical and quartz movements carefully made in Switzerland.

 

Tank Française

The legacy of the Tank Française watch, which first appeared in 1996, is that if a watch is to be a wristwatch, it should have a band. The version with a bracelet has the watch body set in the middle and it became one of the most popular models within a few decades. Today, the range of materials on offer is truly wondrous, including steel or gold, with the bicolour variant gaining enormous popularity among women. In addition to those elements so typical for the line, such as Roman numerals, an inner guilloche frame, blue hands or a blue gem on the crown, this time profiled, selected models also have a date or indexes in the form of diamonds.

Tank Américaine

At the end of the eighties, the US luxury watch market saw a revival. Cartier gained popularity mainly amongst women. The American women wanted bigger models, more distinctive, but ones that retained a Parisian charm and elegance. Tank Américaine was created; a rectangular watch with an elongated dial. Despite all the changes, the main elements - Roman numerals, the inner guilloche frame, blue hands or the blue cabochon on the crown – were preserved. Larger items from the current offer (medium size) are endowed with a date, the case is often decorated with diamonds, in which case the spinel on the crown is replaced by a diamond. The large size is eminently suitable for men’s wrists.
 

Tank Louis Cartier

The Tank Louis Cartier is the purest reminder of the original model, designed and worn by Louis Cartier himself. With this magnificent feat he set a clear standard for all Tank watches. At the time, the new style, which literally radiates from the watch, was called modern, today we call it art deco. At the beginning of the last century wearing a wristwatch was something unprecedented, pioneering. That is why the Tank watch has endeared itself with so many important thinkers, artists and members of the Paris elite. The aura of exclusivity has remained. To this day, they are a highly sought-after model among world leaders in show business and politics.

Tank Cintrée

Symmetry has always been important for the brand, and only a few of the more extravagant models have broken this unwritten rule. This was the case, for instance, with the Tank Cintrée line, which was first introduced, with its traditional Roman numerals, in 1921. It did not take long for the numerals - the main design element - to undergo a fundamental change in this enlarged model. The experiment with Arabic numbers was a success and today these vintage models are a treasure trove for collectors. The elongated case has acquired an arched form, perfectly harmonising with the wrist. In the 1920s, it was slightly thinner than it is today. The collection has even seen cut back models without a dial and with decorated skeletal movements.
 
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