There are certain designs that just resonate throughout the years and remain evergreen despite changing trends and tastes.
The Cartier Tank, in all its hundred-plus years of production, is one such design. Whether finished in gold, stainless steel, or vermeil; whether Française, Chinoise, Americaine, or Normale; the Tank is one watch that truly deserves the greatly-overused term ‘iconic.’
Cartier introduced the Tank in 1917, with a run of six pieces — given, or so the legend goes, to American General Joseph Pershing and his staff. The design of the Tank was supposedly inspired by the Renault FT-17 tanks Cartier glimpsed on the battlefield of the Great War. (Cartier took the look of the Renault tank's treads and applied it to the lugs, which were integrated via tread-like brancards into the case itself.) That first run of six pieces increased to 33 by 1920, and by the end of the 20th century, that number stood well into the hundreds of thousands. In sheer volume alone, the Tank — in all its various models — is Cartier's largest line of watches.
The Tank Louis Cartier was introduced in 1922, following close on the heels of the Asian-influenced Tank Chinoise. With the Tank Louis, Cartier went back to basics, with the classic lug design that resembled the weapons of war that inspired them. Louis Cartier himself wore the watch that bore his name — and the association with him marks the Tank Louis as the quintessence of the Cartier Tanks.
This particular example has all the classic design cues of the Tank Louis, but uses a quartz movement and a gold-capped case, making it a perfect appetizer into the world of Cartier. Known as the Tank Solo, it is slim, boxy and just all-around handsome!
This Large size variant features a 28mm x 35mm case, sapphire crystal and Cartier's signature sapphire cabochon crown. Its silver dial remains simple and elegant, featuring printed ‘Roman’ indices, a matching blued-steel handset and a double Cartier signature. It comes fitted on a glossy black alligator leather strap with a solid 18k ardillon pin buckle.
What better way to break into the Cartier world than with this prototypical icon?
