{"id":14046,"date":"2023-03-22T11:32:55","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T11:32:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/TheWatchClub\/?p=14046"},"modified":"2025-08-19T10:04:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T10:04:26","slug":"cartier-tank-ultimate-buying-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/2023\/03\/22\/cartier-tank-ultimate-buying-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Cartier Tank Ultimate Buying Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

The word “iconic” is often thrown around in the watch world, but if there is one watch that truly lives up to it, that would be the Cartier Tank. Designed by third-generation watchmaker and jewelry designer Louis Cartier in 1917, the rectangular Tank was a challenge to the traditional round watch, and one that ended up becoming a classic in itself.<\/p>\n

At the time, most wristwatches were worn by women and had dainty faces. Inspired by images of World War I, specifically the tanks used by the French army, Louis Cartier created a timepiece that was both spare and elegant.<\/p>\n

The Cartier Tank has been produced in many different styles over the years, and continues to be one of the most popular watches in the world today, due to its classic good looks and practical design. Learn more about its history and its different models with SwissWatchExpo’s Cartier Tank Ultimate Buying Guide.<\/p>\n


\nA Brief History of the Cartier Tank<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The first Cartier Tank was created in 1917, in the midst of the First World War. Inspired by the shape of a French Tank, particularly the Renault FT-17, it is shaped between a rectangle and a square, with strong vertical bars on each side. The Tank\u2019s rounded brancards recall the sides of the combat vehicle when viewed from above.<\/p>\n

\"US<\/p>\n

Renault FT Tanks on the Western Front, 1918 (Public Domain)<\/em><\/p>\n

While Louis Cartier was able to complete its prototype in 1917, in the same year, the United States joined World War I and while Russia was embroiled in the Bolshevik Revolution. It was only in 1919, when the war ended, that the first Cartier Tank was sold. Ultimately, this enabled Cartier and its partners at the time, Swiss watchmakers Jaeger and LeCoultre, to refine the aesthetics and mechanisms of the timepiece.<\/p>\n

The first ever Cartier Tank was gifted to an American General, John Pershing. At the time, he commanded the American Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front, and the timepiece was presented to him as a token of thanks.<\/p>\n

Over the years, the Cartier Tank has graced the wrists of many luminaries – from design leaders like Andy Warhol and royalty like Princess Diana, to the most influential personalities of the 20th century: Muhammad Ali, John and Jacqueline Kennedy, Fred Astaire, Clark Gable, and many more.<\/p>\n

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\nKey Characteristics of the Cartier Tank<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The Cartier Tank is one of the most iconic luxury watches in the world. The rectangular shape appeals to both men and women with its understated elegance.<\/p>\n

The idea was clean lines that follow the shape of its inspiration, the wartime French tank. As Cartier was a designer in luxury fashion and jewelry, you\u2019ll find the same care in their watches.<\/p>\n

\"Cartier<\/a>
\nCartier Tank Anglaise, Tank Divan, and Tank Obus for Ladies<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The brancards on the sides are designed to resemble the treads on the tank with their squared off shape. The inner \u2018race track\u2019 of the dial eventually moved to the outer edges of the dial, meant to track the minutes and seconds for you easily.<\/p>\n

The original Tank watch was paired with a leather band, letting the white face with blue hands take the stage. The simplicity of the design lends well to both casual day wear and black-tie affairs perfectly.<\/p>\n

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\nCartier Tank Through the Years<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The famed Cartier Tank has been made in various iterations throughout the years, each with its own unique interpretation of the ambiguous shape of the watch. Let’s explore the different models under the Cartier Tank collection:<\/p>\n


\nCartier Tank Normale (1919)<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Cartier Tank Normale was the first watch created under the name “Tank\u201d for release to the general public. It was a simple and elegant timepiece that showed off Cartier’s ability to create beautiful watches at an affordable price point. This category includes the six original watches in this line.<\/p>\n

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