When Louis Cartier created The Tank back in 1917, it was highly unlikely he understood the ramifications the line would have on his company. It is more likely he was being patriotic in having his French Company recognize the efforts of another.
You see Cartier’s Tank was a salute to the actual Renault Tanks made to fight in the Western Front during World War I. In fact the first prototype Cartier Tank was given to General John Pershing. Cartier ended up gifting the watch to many of his closest of friends. That’s what we call “Tanks-giving”.
The first The Tank watch for public sale was released in 1922, and since then, editions of the watches have carried through with the symbolic images of those tanks, utilizing squares, rectangles, and sword shaped hands. Many make use of bands that are reminiscent of the metal tracks that the tanks travel upon. If fact, you can still see the top view of a tank in today’s designs of the Cartier watches.
Cartier Tank watches are considered investment time pieces. This is due to their durable construction of valuable materials. Made for men and women, the Cartier Tank watch is the flagship, signature watch of the Cartier line. For over 90 years the Tank has been the choice of those considering fine watches.
Cartier Tank Francaise Chronoflex 18K Yellow Gold Watch
Movie icons Grace Kelly and Greta Garbo wore Cartier Tanks, and John F. Kennedy presented a Cartier Tank to his wife, Jacqueline in 1963, engraved with the simple words “To Jackie, love Jack”. It is said that Prince William was taught to tell time on Diana’s Cartier Tank.
A more curvier edition of the Tank was unveiled in 2012. This new edition, the Tank Anglaise will set you back about $20,000 in the yellow gold edition.
Today, over 3 dozen different Cartier Tank designs are available.
The Tank Anglaise – This edition about $7,250. Photo curtesy of Cartier
Raymond Z for Raymond Lee Jewelers, South Florida’s premiere source for buying and selling luxury watches and designer jewelry.
