Cartier
Tank Must Watch
Pure lines, precise proportions. The Cartier Tank is not just a timepiece, but a statement of elegance and history. The "Must" iteration pays homage to the 70s icon, offering the classic Tank silhouette with a refined, modern sensibility. A watch that requires no introduction.
Details
- Quartz Movement
- Steel Case
- Synthetic Spinel
- Roman Numerals
Design Legacy
Why it endures
In 1917, Louis Cartier was inspired by the brutalist geometry of the Renault FT-17 tanks he saw on the Western Front. The parallel "brancards" of the watch case represent the tank's treads, and the case represents the cockpit. It was the first watch designed essentially as a seamless continuation of the strap.
Timelessness
It broke the tyranny of the round watch. Worn by everyone from Princess Diana to Andy Warhol, who famously said, "I don't wear a Tank watch to tell the time. Actually, I never even wind it. I wear a Tank because it is the watch to wear."
Did You Know?
The "secret signature": On the VII or X numeral of the dial, Cartier often hides a microscopic "CARTIER" text within the leg of the letter to foil counterfeiters.