Cartier Tank Obus

What can we say about Cartier? For over a century, the brand has established a reputation for elegance and refinement. Clark Gable, Rudolph Valentino, and Andy Warhol have all strapped Cartier watches to their wrists. We’ve offered a dozen or so Cartiers over the years, but most of them have been rectangular … but this one isn’t. What we offer here is a Tank Obus. With its square case and bullet-shaped lugs, it’s not your average Tank. But every element of the watch, from the lugs to the patinated white dial, was crafted with a care and attention that one can only say is Cartier. Despite being a purveyor of haute joaillerie, Cartier has had a long tradition of making watches. It started in 1907, when founder Louis Cartier made what was arguably the very first wristwatch for his friend Alberto Santos-Dumont. Throughout the years, the brand made a name for itself with its most famous wristwatch, the Tank, in all its multitudinous forms. One of these is the Obus. Released in 1929, the Tank Obus is known for its unusually shaped lugs, which look nothing more like tiny bullets affixed to the ends of the case. These distinctly-shaped additions to the watch add a completely new character that is a welcome contrast with the rest of the serious watch. If you are looking for a tasteful way to add personality to your collection without being showy or ostentatious, the Obus is an excellent way to do that. This example epitomizes the class that defines Cartier’s brand identity.