As the iconic Tank watch turns 100, Cartier releases six new models

It’s the Tank’s 100th birthday, and you knew all along that Cartier was going to celebrate in a big way. We are finally seeing the new models released for the centenary, and there is a pretty diverse range of offerings.

There are six new versions of the Tank Louis Cartier, or LC for short, the most basic modern Tank. There are versions with diamonds and without, in pink and white gold, and in two different sizes.

First up, we have a pair of Tanks without diamonds. To me, these are the two most worth paying attention to. They are good for men or women and the sizes and styling make them perfect for almost any situation. Both watches here are pink gold, one in the small size (29.5mm x 22mm x 6.8mm) and one in the large size (33.7mm x 25.5mm x 6.6mm), and both are as classic as it gets. Each has just two blued steel hands, the traditional Roman numeral dial with a silvered finish and the cabochon crown. Inside is the calibre 8971 MC, which is an in-house manually wound movement. If you are looking for a basic Tank, it is not going to get much better than this. The small model costs US$9,150 ($12,333) and the large model, US$11,500.

Now, if you are not interested in diamonds, I am probably about to lose you. Up next are a pair of large-size Tanks, in pink gold and white gold, each with two rows of brilliant-cut diamonds. Also, note that instead of the sapphire cabochon in the crown, there is a matching diamond set there as well. As far as diamond watches go, these are pretty understated and traditional. Retail prices are US$19,500 for pink gold and US$20,800 for white gold.

mute
Finally, we have the last two new Tank LCs. These are identical to the models above, just in the smaller size. They still have the two rows of diamonds, the classic Tank shape and, importantly, that in-house manually wound movement. Using the 8971 MC here is a nice touch, when Cartier could easily have substituted a quartz movement with little criticism. Prices are US$15,500 for pink gold and US$16,000 for white gold.

These are not the only new Tank releases. Be sure to check out our coverage of the stainless steel Tank Americaine and the Tank Cintrée Skeleton too. — Bloomberg LP

Originally published by Stephen Pulvirent on Hodinkee

This article first appeared in Issue 799 (Oct 2) of The Edge Singapore