Shrouded in mystery, this rare 14K gold-plated Tank belongs to the scarcely seen “Stepped Case” series from the 1970s - a phantom of the past treasured by scholars of vintage Cartier. With its bold proportions, the watch bears a captivating wrist presence. The stepped bezel dramatically frames the handsome black dial and painted gold Roman numerals, along with sword hands that reflect a 1970s reinterpretation of the Tank's iconic codes and geometry.
Distinguished by its serial number beginning "12", this example was destined for the coveted New York (ref. 15716) boutique as the rarest and most prestigious reference of the three boutique editions – with approximately 2,500 examples produced as opposed to approximately 10,000 examples each made for the Paris (ref. 1543) and London (ref. 471) boutiques. Displaying superior quality details like the 14K gold-plated brass case, screw-down caseback, and recessed elongated crown, the New York edition truly stands apart amongst the trio.
This rare vintage reference encapsulates the creative spirit of the 70s Cartier boutiques before standardization. For scholars and collectors of Cartier's most iconic silhouettes, the present timepiece represents a stylishly retro perspective on the legendary Tank design.