Manufacturer: Cartier Year: Circa 2008 Case No: 0016 MG Model Name: CPCP Tank à Vis 2485 E Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual. cal. 437MC, 18 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold Cartier deployant clasp Dimensions: 31mm Length x 27mm Width Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by red folder, instruction manual, Collection Privée Cartier Paris fitted presentation and outer packaging,
Catalogue Essay
- From 1998 to 2008, the Collection Privée Cartier Paris revived some of Cartier's most iconic designs from the past century, from the Crash to the Tank Cintrée, pairing them with high-quality mechanical movements. In many instances, those distinctive designs from the past hadn't been produced for decades, highlighting the Maison's desire to emphasise its heritage.
- The origins of how the Tank a Vis came to be are fascinating and intriguing. It is believed that the Pasha of Marrakesh in 1931 requested a wristwatch that could be worn in the pool, leading to the creation of the Tank Étanche. Now featuring an ingenious case tightly secured by screws, the watch was essentially waterproof. The Tank Étanche heavily inspired the Tank à Vis, which was later introduced in the Collection Privée Cartier Paris.
- Representing the purest of designs, the present CPCP Tank a Vis is encased in platinum, the most rarely used metal across the Collection Privée Cartier Paris. Following the classic lines of the original Tank from 1917, its distinctive appearance result in a rounded and elegant profile. The case measures 27mm width by 31mm in length, maintaining a classic look whilst also appealing to modern tastes. Inside the timepiece is powered by the Calibre 437MC.
- Preserved in excellent overall condition, the present CPCP Tank à Vis is further accompanied by its CPCP fitted presentation box.
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.
