Everything you need to know when buying a Cartier Tank, from the watches renowned history to models and key features.
If you want a watch that stands out, consider the Cartier Tank. Over 100 years old, this design sprung from a founder’s desire to embody the changes he witnessed, propelling the maison into the future of fashion. Is a Cartier Tank worth the investment? If you value belonging to a history of vision and craftsmanship, the answer is yes.
The Origins of the Cartier Tank
Most Popular Cartier Tank Models
Find the Newest Addition to Your Collection With Bezel
While some Cartier watches feature the traditional circular face, the Tank collection stands out for its rectangular shape. It broke barriers upon its release in 1917, when fashion trends favored dainty, round faces, and remains iconic for its innovation.
What inspired Louis François Cartier, the designer, to create an accessory that transgressed popular styles? History aficionados will recognize this time period as one of global strife as Europe’s greatest powers fought World War I. During this time, technology leaped forward as each side sought to gain an advantage over the other. One development was the invention of the tank to safely cross barbed wire that mired the no-man’s land between trenches.
By 1917, the British military had used the tank for two years, and their rugged effectiveness was common knowledge. The shape and power of these war machines directly inspired the look of Cartier Tank watches, with the treads, cockpit and top-down shape referenced.
Of course, you can enjoy the elegance and dynamism of this collection without knowing the details of Cartier Tank history. These timepieces remain incredibly crafted and visually striking, making them a favorite among celebrities.
Which Cartier Tank watch is right for you? If you already have an idea, you can browse the Bezel app to view available options yourself or engage with a concierge team to find exactly what you want. If you’re new to these unique collections, peruse the guide below to discover everything the Tank has to offer.
You can find pre-owned Cartier Tank timepieces at surprisingly affordable prices. More importantly, you can confidently purchase your desired watch knowing it’s authentic due to the in-depth authentication process that Bezel offers. As a result, you can obtain one of these luxury accessories for between $3,500 and $51,000, with plenty of options in the $4,000 to $6,000 range.
The Tank collection offers watches in a variety of colors and finishes, ensuring you can find one that embodies your style. Below are some of the most iconic designs for men and women.
Released in 2012, the Cartier Tank Solo sports a leather strap and quartz-powered movement. The face bears Roman numerals, a standard for most Tank models. The clean lines and few embellishments make it a versatile timepiece, great for pairing with formal or casual dress. As a result, it’s an easy choice for your everyday watch, as it can reliably fit in at business meetings, sports bars and the opera.
One thing to keep in mind: The Cartier Tank Solo doesn’t have a second hand. This likely isn’t a deal-breaker for most, but if you’re in the habit of timing things or simply enjoy the gentle tick of a second hand, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
The Anglaise is a chunkier Tank model with a metal bracelet. It embodies the sophistication and neatness of the Art Deco era through carefully crafted details and bold design choices.
While there are several versions of the Anglaise, they all feature automatic or quartz-powered movement. The crown allows for adjustment of the time and the date, which you can view in the 3 o’clock space on the dial. The Anglaise has a unique crown enclosed in the case, giving it a more technical yet playful appearance.
The dial features a textured background that is subtle enough to miss at first glance but yields intricate secrets after a moment of study. This model has a second hand, which you can track with the unique second marks.
The Americaine evolved from the Cintrée, an older Tank model. Debuting in 1989, the Americaine defies the Tank collection convention with a curved crystal and case, allowing it to fit perfectly along the wrist. The overall shape is also longer and thinner, giving it a more modern look.
Another subtle difference lies in the Roman numerals, which bear a curved top, creating a slightly oval shape on the dial. The case also has curved corners, giving it a more elegant feel.
While you can confidently call the classic Americaine a minimalist timepiece, it has several details enthusiasts will appreciate:
This model is available with leather bands and metallic bracelets, broadening the customization possibilities.
The Louis is one of the oldest Tank models, dating all the way back to 1919. While it has seen many updates over the last century, the core features remain recognizable:
Most notable is Louis's use of precious metals. Unlike other Tank models, the Louis always uses platinum or gold in its construction; as a result, this timepiece communicates wealth without becoming garish.
If you love getting a peek at your watch’s inner workings, the Cartier Tank MC is an excellent option. Its transparent back allows you to see the intricacies of the automatic movement, and it sports a Geneva waves finish for an extra layer of sophistication.
The MC stands out for its unique case design, as the back is flat while the crystal curves. As a result, the timepiece is slightly clunkier than its solely curved or flat fellows, but the difference is negligible on the wrist. The dial is more intricate than others in the Tank collection, bearing both a subdial and a date marker.
While the majority of Cartier Tank watches follow the same mold, the Asymétrique takes things in a new and intriguing direction. Instead of the straight, rectangular case that’s a hallmark of the Tank, this watch sports a rhombus shape with the 12 mark in the upper right-hand corner.
Additionally, the Asymétrique eschews Roman numerals for traditional Arabic at even intervals with a simple line in between. The movement is manual, a divergence from the usual quartz and automatic types. The result is whimsical without straying into ornate.
The Cartier Tank a Vis fits neatly into the collection with minor details offering a unique take, the most obvious of which is the bezel. Rather than an uninterrupted finish, the bezel sports four screws on top, creating an eye-catching frame.
The case is slightly curved on top, while the crystal is flat, creating a slight difference between the two. This model is also hand-wound, which is uncommon for this collection.
The Tank a Vis is available in yellow gold, making it a more formal design. The design and band are wide, which may look clunky on women’s wrists.
A manual timepiece, the Cintrée stands out for its slender rectangular shape and curved case and crystal. The alligator straps provide a classic feel while blending in enough to complement more modern outfits.
The most unique aspect of the Cintrée is its hour markers; the dial bears only two Arabic numerals at the six and 12 marks, both relatively large for the face size. All other marks are simple, printed lines, giving this model a distinctly modern appearance. This timepiece still has railroad-style minute marks that tie into the overall Tank collection.
Ready to purchase a Cartier Tank to add to your collection? The Bezel app makes finding your next timepiece easier than ever, and our buyer protection policy and authentication process ensure you can confidently purchase pre owned watches. Shop today to find the next addition to your luxury watch collection.
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