Cartier Watches
Tank
Designed in 1917 and inspired by WWI tanks, the Tank debuted in 1919. Its rectangular shape, integrated lugs, Roman numerals, and blued hands created a design that became iconic.
About the Tank Collection
The unique design of the Cartier Tank is due to the lugs hidden beneath the flat long sides with their sharp edges. These clean lines have even made the name Tank synonymous with watches featuring rectangular cases. Compressed and elongated Roman numerals as indices on the light background ensure the captivating clarity of the dial. The narrow, blued hands correspond with the tapered blue crown. Understated refinements such as satin finishes or a linear diamond setting emphasize the modesty typical of the Tank.
The Tank de Cartier is also equipped with a highly functional quartz movement with an autonomy of up to eight years and has a case that is water-resistant to 3 bar.
The timepiece, which has since become an icon, has been interpreted in numerous variations without losing any of its strong personality. From 1921 onwards, the case was enlarged and the trademarks became more refined: the Tank LC watch was created—the name stands for Louis Cartier. At the end of the 1970s, monochrome dials were added with the Tank Must.
At the end of the 1980s, the slightly narrower Tank Américaine, which is still in demand today, was launched. Finally, in 1996, the square Tank Française introduced a metal bracelet that perfectly matched the square shape of the Tank watch case.