Cartier Tank Must De Cartier Extra-Large

Despite the fact that Cartier is better known as a jewelry brand (perhaps one of the leading ones, for that matter), its contribution to the art of horology is not insignificant. The very fact that the brand's Santos model proudly holds the title of "the first men's wristwatch" is one of the facts confirming the reputation of the brand's horological division. Most of the collections are created based on an exceptional story, journey, or encounters with extraordinary individuals. Such is the case with the Tank collection – its first model was created by Louis Cartier in 1917 and was inspired by the new Renault tanks, which Cartier saw for the first time on the Western Front. Almost immediately after this encounter, Cartier presented the prototype to General John Pershing, and just a year and a half later, in 1919, the watch was already in series production. Its lines and proportions are similar to those of the tanks seen on the battlefields of the First World War – it is simultaneously a square and a rectangle, and its strap is elegantly integrated into the vertical lugs, which the manufacturer (most likely to be in keeping with the military theme) calls "brancards". The defining characteristics of the Tank collection include a dial with Roman numerals, a square inner scale, sword-shaped hands of blued steel, and a sapphire cabochon proudly crowning the crown. The historical heritage, the brand's reputation, and the unconventional design make the models of the collection some of the most beloved by famous historical figures – its various iterations have been worn by Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, and Yves Saint Laurent. The presented watch is from the previous Tank model line – the enlarged Solo XL version, offered in a steel case, with a metal bracelet with a deployant clasp and dimensions of 31 by 40.85 mm, allowing it to be worn on a wrist of almost any size. Like all other representatives of the collection, it also has a silvered dial with Roman numerals and a blue sapphire cabochon on its crown. At its heart beats the brand's in-house movement, Cartier Calibre 1847 MC – an automatic with 23 jewels, a power reserve of 42 hours, and operating at 28,800 vibrations.