Sometimes masculine, sometimes feminine. Sleek, sophisticated and timeless. Over the years, the Cartier Tank watch, in its innumerable variations, has adorned the wrists of actors, artists, fashion designers, and the all glitterati in between. The Cartier Tank is an instant icon of good taste. Incredibly, this classic timepiece has been in continuous production since its public debut in 1917 and its popularity shows no signs of waning.
The Tank ‘Normale’ was the very first Tank. Created in 1917 and available to the public 1919, the original concept was almost painfully simple: four lines, with two parallel shafts, allowing the strap to be seamlessly integrated into the case. The trademark design cues that would come to define the Tank collection were already present at this early stage: Roman numerals for the hours, a railway track minute counter, blued steel hands, and of course, a winding crown set with a cabochon blue sapphire. Inside the case sits a thin, manually-wound mechanical movement, designed by French watchmaker Edmond Jaeger and manufactured by LeCoultre & Cie.