Cartier’s Les Rééditions: Meet the New Tank Cintrée in Platinum

The Tank collection was created by Louis Cartier in 1917. It was inspired by the Renault tanks, which Cartier himself saw being used on the Western Front. Over the years, Tank became one of the most significant collections from the manufacturer. Born in 1923, Tank Cintrée platinum is now celebrating its 100th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the luxury brand has released a new Tank Cintrée watch in a new platinum case, the previous editions being in rose gold (Ref. WGTA0025), which was followed by two in yellow gold (Ref. WGTA0057 and Ref. WGTA0026).

Jeweller-watchmaker Cartier has persistently excelled at creating some of the finest pieces of jewellery and watches in the world. Boasting a rich tradition, the Maison has now been seen experimenting with watch shapes. The Tank Cintrée and its modern variant, Tank Américaine, are undoubtedly some of the most elegant timepieces to be ever created. They feature a remarkable shape — elongated, slim, and curved to fit the wrist. 

Aesthetically, the new watch carries forward all the right notes from the previous editions. It is elegant and simple and most importantly, its prime focus is on shape rather than on complications. The new platinum model has a case that measures 46.3 mm in length and is 6.03 mm thick. The most striking aspect of the watch is its elongated rectangular case. At 3 o’clock, the crown has a ruby cabochon, which, Cartier says, marks the 100th anniversary of the Tank Cintrée, produced in platinum. To ensure comfort on the wrist, the timepiece maintains a curved profile. 

Inside the case is calibre 9780 MC, known to be supplied by Jaeger-LeCoultre — just like the vintage editions of Cintrée. Delivering a 36-hour power reserve, calibre 9780 MC is based, with slight modifications, on calibre 849 and is a compact hand-wound ultra-thin movement that has enabled JLC to create its thinnest models, such as the Master Ultra Thin Kingsman Knife. It’s not the most high-tech movement available, but its 1.89 mm profile benefits the Cartier Tank Cintrée platinum.

Sticking to the 1920s’ versions, the timepiece gets an eggshell colour dial and black-printed Roman numerals and minute tracks in the middle of the dial. There are vintage blued steel apple-shaped hands, indicating hours and minutes. Finishing the watch is a black leather strap with a pin buckle. The final touch of refinement on this creation, produced in an edition of 150 numbered pieces, is the play of finishes on the brancards, polished on the verticals and matte on the horizontals.