Cartier Tank Watches – True Icon
If one publishes the list of crowned heads, famous scientists, writers, actors, sportsmen and other outstanding people who wear or wore Tank, there will be an entire book that tells about the history of the XX century better than a manual. No other watch model can boast of so great admiration by so many ordinary and outstanding people from all around the world. Together with car, plane, space rocket, nuclear bomb, radio, TV and computer Tank can be called one of the icons of the previous century, the icon that is still worshiped and admired.
Being associated with World War I and inspired by the new Renault tanks this model has become a symbol of aggressive design in watch making. Being inspired by tanks Louis Cartier created the prototype of the future famous model in 1917. Two years were required to fit the watch with a reliable and precise movement and to improve the design of the watch. The model entered the market in 1919 and since that time the watch has been constantly in the list of the world's watch best sellers.
The first model from this collection featured the ultra-thin 1,32 mm movement and the anti-shock system that was invented by Breguet and improved by the watch makers from Cartier.
Louis Cartier worked hard at the design of the watch. His aim was to develop a perfect watch with simple, yet elegant design. He achieved this aim and created a watch that has been popular for already 90 years. The lines and proportions of the Tank model are similar to those of tanks found on First World War battlefields.
The case is both a square and a rectangle. The straps of the watch are hidden from view by vertical sidepieces. Watches from the Tank collection as a rule have blue, sword-shaped hands and silvered opaline guilloche dials. Tank watches, like most watches from Cartier feature winding crowns with sapphire cabochons on them. Most models of Tank have versions adorned with fantastically beautiful diamonds. Bracelets in this model are shaped with indentations that remind of the caterpillar tracks of real tanks.
There are men's, women's and unisex Tank watches. The watches come in both automatic and quartz versions. The latest Tank models – Tank Americaine, Francaise, Tank Must and Basculante. Tank watches had become the beginning of the era of wristwatches. These models really made wristwatches the most popular and the most luxurious accessories.
