2010s Cartier Tank Solo XL Automatic 31mm on Bracelet
Ref: W5200028 / 3515
Specification
Lugs : 23mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box & Booklets
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original Cartier box, Cartier booklets, and Cartier booklet holder. The watch comes paired with a 23mm Cartier polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet with its Cartier signed deployment clasp, all links are provided. The watch is from Circa. Late 2010s and is sold in worn condition, we can offer a complete refinish of the case and bracelet for an additional cost if requested. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lHqSSfYn-FqdGrVFqbJHABFcEgg1Tdok?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 7:35 - https://youtu.be/rDjaU3Q5dmk
The Watch
Here we have a 31mm Cartier Tank Solo XL Automatic that has an understated elegance in its stainless steel case, its slim profile has screw detailing and ends with soft rounded corners. A lug-to-lug length of 40.5mm and a case thickness of just 7.5mm leads to a comfortable fit on the wrist, polished and brushed surfaces transition with perfect lines. On the right side is a crown with a blue cabochon stone inset. A flat sapphire crystal sits above an Opaline silver dial, large Roman numerals mark the hours that radiate from the centre and surround an inner minute track. At 6 o'clock we have a framed date window. Elegant heat-blued pencil hands complete the sophisticated dial. On the reverse, we have a screwed-down case back, engraved with the details of the watch, inside an automatic Cartier Cal. 049, 21 jewels, beating at 28,800 beats per hour, this movement has a base of the ETA 2892-A2 and has hand winding and hacking seconds for your convenience. The watch comes paired with its 23mm Cartier polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet complete with its hidden Cartier deployment clasp, all links are provided. This watch is sold with its original Cartier box, Cartier booklets, and Cartier booklet holder.
Personal Note
For me personally nothing will beat a small, vintage gold Cartier Tank, though I can absolutely see the appeal of this wonderful automatic reference in the larger size with its bracelet. I mentioned to a customer recently that this really feels like a piece of Cartier jewellery that happens to have a watch on it, this is thanks to the bold bracelet, though if that's not for you its simple enough to switch over to a leather strap, best of both worlds! If you are unsure on the size, don't hesitate to book an appointment and come try it on for yourself.
The Brand
In 1847 Louis-Francois Cartier founded Cartier in Paris, France. He quickly established himself by catering to the elites in society. In 1903 they created their first men's wristwatch, inspired by his pilot friend Alberto Santos-Dumont, who called it the Santos. Just 4 years later in 1907, Cartier began a partnership with Edmond Jaeger of the prominent watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre. Jaeger agreed to be the exclusive supplier of movements for Cartier watches. In 1917 they debuted the Tank. Their watches were so popular that copies soon appeared to counteract this. Cartier introduced reference numbers to each watch. In 1919 they introduced the Tank which was inspired by the robust American tank used in the First World War. It has been famously worn by many over the years including Andy Warhol, Alain Delon, Clarke Gable, Catherine Deneuve, and Duke Ellington. The early watches were all handmade in France, with movements by Jaeger. In 1972, a group of investors led by financial wizard Joseph Kanoui bought the company. In 1973 we saw the first “Must de Cartier'' boutique open in Biarritz, followed by one in Singapore. During the 1980s they acquired several non-jewellery businesses such as Beaume et Mercier in 1988 and Piaget and Alderbert in 1989. Today Cartier is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Swiss Richemont Group that includes IWC, Montblanc, and Vacheron Constantin.