2020 Cartier Tank Solo XL Automatic WSTA0029 / 3800
Ref: WSTA0029 (3800)

Specification

Points of Mention

This watch is sold with its original Cartier box, Cartier instruction booklet, and Cartier booklet holder, original papers. The watch comes paired on an original Cartier black strap with its original Cartier signed deployment buckle. Included in the box is a Cartier crystal protector. The watch is from August 2020 and is sold in worn condition, but overall very fair condition as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.

The Watch

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.

Here we have a  31mm Cartier Tank Solo XL that has an understated elegance in its stainless steel case. Its slim profile 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 for the hours 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. Inside an Automatic movement. Fitted on a 23mm leather strap tapering down to 18mm complete with its Cartier deployment buckle, the watch also comes with its Cartier presentation box and papers.

Personal Note

This reference to me feels like Cartier's answer to the modern man or lady who wants a Cartier Tank but wishes it to be bigger, bolder, and automatic. Whilst my personal preference will always be with the smaller Tanks, this model wears surprisingly well on my wrist and I could happily enjoy it without feeling like it's too big. If you are on the fence with this, I'd recommend coming in to try it on, it will likely surprise you.