Manufacturer: Cartier Year: Circa 2000 Reference No: 2685G Case No: 0164CE Model Name: Tank Chinoise Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual, cal. 437 MC, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Cartier deployant clasp Dimensions: 29mm Width and 37mm Length Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Cartier product literature and presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Cartier released their Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP) series in 1998. A journey through the archives, these timepieces paid homage to the famed jeweler's iconic designs. Among the icons that were re-issued were the Crash, Tank Cintrée and Tortue among others. Today, watches from the CPCP collection are particularly collectible among the collecting community.
First launched in 1922, the Tank Chinoise was a stylish reinterpretation of the original Tank model. It featured two overlapping bars on either side of the case, providing additional flair and a design twist. The present watch is a modern interpretation. Cased in platinum, it is a beautiful ode to Cartier's stylish designs of the 1920s and 1930s.
The present watch is preserved in particularly excellent condition with sharp hallmarks beneath the case.
With the Constitution of 1848 came a new standard for luxury in France. Founded one year prior by Louis-Francois Cartier, the house of Cartier was one of the first to use platinum in jewelry making. This incredibly expensive material became the stepping-stone for Cartier to experiment in form, mechanisms and attitude. It helped men move from pocket watches to wristwatches, effectively making the watch much more functional and prominent in a man's overall wardrobe.
Cartier did not only touch on functionality. Inspired by a commissioned painting by George Barbier featuring a black panther at the feet of an elegantly bejeweled woman, Cartier began incorporating wild animals in his designs—most notably, Cartier Panthère rings, bangle bracelets and watches. Yet it wasn't until the late 1960s that the house of Cartier debuted their iconic yellow and rose gold LOVE collection, which includes the famous bracelet that only a special screwdriver can open.