Overview
The Cartier Tank was introduced in 1917 by Louis Cartier, who famously drew inspiration from the geometric silhouette and armored tracks of the Renault FT-17 military tanks used during World War I. While the original Tank Normale established the signature "brancard" case design and Roman numeral dial, the 1922 Tank Louis Cartier refined these features into the softer, more elegant proportions that define the collection today. Over the last century, the line has evolved into a global style icon worn by figures like Andy Warhol, Princess Diana, and Muhammad Ali.
While most Cartier Tanks throughout history have featured a mechanical movement and a precious metal case, Cartier pivoted in 1977 with the launch of the Must de Cartier series. To lower costs without sacrificing style, these watches featured gold-plated silver cases (vermeil) and utilized either quartz or ETA-based mechanical movements. The collection was successfully reintroduced in 2021, debuting modern SolarBeat movements and vibrant lacquered dials that pay homage to the original designs of the 1970s and 80s.
The Must de Cartier offered here was released to the US market in 2022 and features a stunning jet-black lacquered dial, rhodium-finished steel hands, and silver printed branding. The crown spices up an otherwise monochrome design with its decorative base and striking blue synthetic spinel cabochon. Among the various modern Tanks available today, this iteration may just be our favorite for its clean, versatile design and refined sense of minimalism.
Specifications
Brand:
Cartier
Model:
Tank Must de Cartier
Reference:
WSTA0072
Year:
2022
Case Number:
216335CX
Case Material:
Stainless steel
Diameter:
25.5 mm
Lug Width:
19 mm
Thickness:
6.60 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
33.7 mm
Dial:
Black
Lume:
None
Crystal:
Sapphire
Movement:
Quartz
Caliber:
Unspecified
Bracelet/Strap:
Cartier black alligator strap with tang buckle
Max Wrist Size:
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.2 in
Condition
Case: The stainless steel case shows practically no wear with only a few hairlines present. The overall impression is very clean. The lugs are thick and full. The caseback has a couple faint marks but remains excellent. The brand and serial engravings are sharp and legible.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The black dial and polished sword hands are in immaculate condition with no notable imperfections. The sapphire crystal is squeaky clean and scratch-free.
Bracelet/Strap: The Cartier alligator strap shows little-to-no wear with plenty of life left to give. The condition of the buckle is consistent with the rest of the case. The Cartier engraving on the backside remains crisp and detailed.
Performance
Timing: The watch has been manually observed over a 24-hour period and is keeping accurate time.
Functions: All functions including the crown winding and time setting are working as expected.
Service History: None.
