Cartier Tank Louis

Cartier is responsible for some of the most recognizable and successful wristwatches in the history of modern horology. The definitive expert on timepiece design, the French maison has always been a leader in challenging conventional approaches to watchmaking while pioneering new styling as a fixture in the broader fashion world. Few watches have played a larger role in solidifying this brand identity than the Tank. Undoubtedly the most iconic watch in Cartier’s history and conceived based on a simple idea, it’s evolved to take myriad forms over the years, with over a dozen sub-designs that each has its own identity and presence. After the release of the Tank, the watch space was changed forever. Introduced in 1917 based on the conception of Louis Cartier, the great-grandson of Cartier’s founder, it took inspiration from a French military tank from the First World War— the Renault FT-17. Its look was striking and revolutionary — rectangular and unconventional for the period, it was also one of the earliest wristwatches to be popularly accepted within the broader fashion space. After 1917, Cartier saw a surge in interest in its unique watches, and more and more Cartier Tank models were born, building on the underlying design philosophy that made it an initial success in the 1910s. The Tank Cintrée was introduced in 1921, the Louis and Chinoise in 1922, the Basculante in 1933, the Asymetrique in 1936, and so on. While each model has its own unique personality, the Tank Louis is the quintessential configuration, and is truly the face of the Tank collection. The rounded, polished brancards, blue sapphire cabochon, beautiful numerals, 'railroad' minute track, and blued steel 'sword' hands have not only come to personify the Tank, but also Cartier’s identity more broadly as a watchmaker. This particular Tank Louis is notable for its inclusion of a matching bracelet — a relative rarity in the Tank world. A Reference 8660 executed in 18K yellow gold, it's sized at 18mm and comes with a beautiful multi-link 18K yellow gold ‘Milanese’ bracelet, which adds a bit of pizzazz to an otherwise serious dress piece. Powered by a reliable quartz movement and fitted with a handsome white 'Roman' dial, this superb piece is ready to light up a formal affair. If you're looking for a dress watch that packs a precious-metal punch, you could do much worse than this spectacular Cartier!