Why We Love It

Cartier is often regarded as a pinnacle of luxury goods.

That reputation has not come out of thin air. They have been producing luxury timepieces since the mid 1800's, none more so iconic than the Cartier Tank. Now, we've had a couple of Cartier Tank Basculantes over the years, but this one is a limited edition--number 14 of 15- released in 1997 to celebrate the 150th year anniversary of Cartier. 

The dial is elegant and dynamic, with its two toned silver dial, but the real show is on the reverse side of the pivoting case. Engaging the articulating gold frame reveals a sapphire case back, showcasing the meticulously engraved manually winding movement. 

While there have been many iterations of of the Cartier Tank of the decades, few are as engaging as the Basculante. And while Cartier is certainly the go to for those looking to add a touch of under stated elegance to their collection, this particular piece brings a little extra detail and rarity to an already distinct and desirable aesthetic.

Plus- these cases are just so much fun to play with!

The Story

There are certain designs that just resonate throughout the years and remain evergreen despite changing trends and tastes. The Cartier Tank, in all its one hundred years of production, is one such design. Whether in gold (yellow, pink, or white), stainless steel, or vermeil; whether Française, Chinoise, Americaine, or Normale; the Tank by Cartier is one watch that truly deserves to be called "iconic."

Cartier introduced the Tank in 1917, with a run of six pieces--given, or so the legend goes, to American General Joseph Pershing and his staff. The design of the Tank was inspired by the Renault FT-17 tanks Cartier glimpsed on the battlefield of the Great War. Cartier took the look of the Renault tank's treads and applied it to the lugs, which were integrated via brancards into the case itself. That first run of six pieces increased to thirty-three by 1920, and by the end of the 20th century, that number stood well in the thousands. In sheer volume alone, the Tank--in all its various models--is Cartier's largest line of watches. 

The Tank Basculante Mécanique was released in 1932, a year after the . The Basculante certainly shares design similarities with the Reverso: the case in which the dial is housed pivots inside an outer case, much like the Reverso's. However, unlike the Reverso, which only uses a single track, the Basculante employs a swinging frame. When deployed, the inner case looks as though it's on a seesaw. Hence the name, which comes from the French bascule, or seesaw.