Cartier Tank Watches

The Tank collection is without a doubt the most legendary and recognizable of all the timepieces produced by Cartier. The Tank’s iconic design was inspired by the Allied tanks that defended France in World War I.

Here’s what the Cartier website (www.Cartier.com) has to say about the Tank:

“The quintessence of Cartier's style, harmoniously combining reminiscence from the past and contemporary trends.”

Today, there are four different sub-collections within the larger Tank portfolio. They are Tank Française, Tank Solo, Tank Américaine and Tank Louis Cartier.

As featured on the Cartier website, the Tank collection includes 58 different models for both men and women. Depending on the timepiece, there are both quartz and automatic movement options to consider. To provide a range of price and design options, Tank timepieces are made from metals including steel, gold, white gold, pink gold, titanium and platinum. And sizes within the Tank collection vary from mini, small, medium, large to extra large.

The point being, there are quite a number of factors you can consider when researching which Cartier Tank timepiece is the right one for you.

Created in 1917 by Louis Cartier, the Tank timepiece prototype was presented by Cartier to General John Pershing of the American Expeditionary Force. It was first offered for sale to the public in 1922. Depending on the source I reviewed, the Tank is either the third or fourth major collection of Cartier watches.

The Tank’s design is both a square and a rectangle, providing the impression of a moving battle tank. Its straps are concealed under vertical sidepieces, which make the tank-like imagery even more powerful. Models with metal straps also have indentations, which are reminiscent of the caterpillar tracks on real tanks.

Gentlemen, if you don’t yet own a Tank timepiece yet, I’d recommend the Tank Américaine as a good starting point in your search. Some state that the Cartier Tank Américaine is “one of the most definitive watches of the 20th century”. For me, its rectangular shape, smooth edges and rounded corners add a sense of contemporariness to the Tank’s classic design. And subjectively, the Tank Américaine is better suited to my Midwestern sense of style.

The Solo offers a more wallet friendly purchase of the Tank, and still carries the appeal one seeks through Cartier.

But before you make any decisions, I urge you to give the original Tank Louis Cartier a serious look. As noted in the history section, the Tank Louis Cartier was designed by the master, Louis Cartier and has one of the more interesting background stories I’ve ever read. The design of the Tank Louis Cartier has remained unchanged for almost 100 years. If you consider yourself a Cartier “purist”, you can be assured this timepiece will not go out of style during your lifetime.

The consensus appears to be with Tank Solo as a good starting point in the research process for a woman’s Cartier timepiece. There are a wide range of prices, styles and sizes to choose from. Everything from hot pink and faux leopard skin straps, to the classic Tank metal bands.

The other Tank receiving a lot of attention is Tank Américaine. There are more than 20 models to choose from, and the curved design is exceptional. Cartier calls it “A reminder of a style developed by Cartier in New York during the 1930s.” I must warn you, however, that there are no “starter” models in this sub-collection. All of the models are made of white, yellow or pink gold, and many have diamonds set in them as well. Very, very luxurious, but also more expensive than other Tank options.

Regardless of whether you agree with me, and the sub-collections I’ve discussed, owning a Cartier Tank timepiece is an experience like no other. An analogy I like to use is “giving your inner French child a permanent hug.”