A Brief History of the Cartier Tank

Created in 1917, the stunning yet understated Cartier Tank was the brainchild of none other than Louis Cartier. He gave birth to what is now considered to be one of the finest and most sought-after horological masterpieces ever produced.

Believe it or not, this design did not carry any name but later took its inspiration from what appears to be a tank’s cockpit used during the First World War that Cartier observed on the Western Front. Its square aesthetical look and name were the signal for the exclusive Cartier Tank.

General Pershing, The First Cartier Tank Owner

The original sample was given as a present to General Pershing, a general officer belonging to the US Army responsible for the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.

It was not until two years later that the Tank was introduced to the watch market blending its sleek feminine curves alongside a forward-thinking art nouveau-inspired square face which was clean, simple, and completely new.

Horology Trend Setter

Completely crisp and seamless, its appearance has given birth to a number of different wristwatch variations but has remained true to its particular distinctiveness.

The lines and equal sizes were identical to these tanks that were marching across a variety of battlefields at the time. But what are the Tank’s defining features?

It not only provides its signature dial with the numbers corresponding to Roman numerals but steel hands are dagger-shaped with chemin-de-fer chapter rings and a sapphire cabochon.

In 1919, as soon as the Tank was placed into Cartier’s official salon in Paris, history changed forever. Cartier was then able to take his rightful place among the horological greats for this iconic model which set the standard in pioneering design.

As movements of a different kind were on the up such as Cubism, Futurism, and Bauhaus, these trends led Cartier to consider several points. He intended to create something that focused on modernist influences where less was certainly more.

Form and function had a definite role to play which was reflected in the original prototype in 1917. The solution to the problem came in the form of the Cartier Tank which many watchmakers have struggled to enhance.

With the brancards extremely close to the band, the Tank is unwavering, unapologetic, and extremely understated with an impact that has never been matched to this day.

The perfect square shape as well as the similar brancards measurements ensured the smooth continuity of this incredibly formed outline. It is designed in its purest and most innocent form.

The straight bars are a simple yet ingenious concept that was way ahead of its time and has made the Tank a true legend. This model is not just construction in its finest form but an evolution of grace that captures the true essence of the Zeitgeist.

The First Elegant Wristwatch

As Cologni declared in his book Cartier the Tank Watch, this model was, “the first elegant wristwatch destined for the modern man of action.” In the first year of production, only six Tank watches were ever produced.

By 1920, 33 models had been manufactured. The Tank was finished in a wealth of materials including yellow gold, white gold, pink, and platinum.

So what was going on in the world when Monsieur Cartier introduced this fine piece? In 1917, the revolution was very much in the air thanks to Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks.

April saw Jeannette Rankin as the first female member to be elected into the U.S. House of Representatives.

It was the same year that the British Royal family changed their title to Windsor whilst, across the pond, Woodrow Wilson began his second term as US President.

Travelling history of investment-quality timepieces.

Minutes & Seconds

Remember geography lessons mentioning latitude and longitude as minutes and seconds and wondering how calculating longitude requires knowing the difference between local time and Greenwich Mean Time and west of Greenwich by the difference in hours between locations. Because the local position may not be in the centre of a time zone or longitude, fractions of longitude are measured in the same fractions as time, in minutes and seconds.

John Harrison & Timekeeping

Ships carried timekeeping devices to assist in navigation, but at first, they were not good enough to make accurate calculations of longitude. To promote the development of more accurate timekeeping devices and impish Parliament offered a large prize for a timepiece that could provide longitude accurate to within 30 miles West Indies. John Harrison won the prize in 1762 with a timepiece accurate to within 18 miles.

Chronometers

Some of the world’s great timekeepers started out making marine chronometers and successive gentlemen developed the timekeeping devices that accompanied and enabled faster methods of transportation. This marriage of Transport horology created the legacy of beauty and accuracy that lives on in the collections of today’s manufacturers.

Watches Certified for Spaceflight

Some commented on ocean transport with their marine timepieces and diving watches delivered precision timekeeping. The nautical themes present today go back to the very start of precision timekeeping devices. Next came railroads, which rate safely without good timekeeping and the ability to coordinate time between distant places telegraph and engineer what travel possible and left their mark on the world of watches as well. Aeroplanes created their own need for highly re companies in the age of flight. Today NASA has a list of watches certified for spaceflight.

Milestones in travel and navigation:

• Abraham Louis Breguet made improvements to the first chronometer shortly after its invention. The Breguet Marine collection carries this tradition. Ulysse Nardin began making manometers in 1846 and continues the tradition with the Maxi Marine and Marine Diver collections.

• Ball Watch Company of Cleveland, Ohio became a household word during when universal time period. The Elgin Watch Company of Elgin, Ohio, was also among the strong brands to begin making timepieces to the exacting standards developed then for railroad use.
• Breitling – Long associated with flight, the Navitimer included a circular slide rule on the bezel of chronograph models to assess dial was incorporated for the Cosmonaute Navitimt at the request of NASA Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter and worn in his 1962 space. The Emergency mode transmitter that was used by a helicopter after a 2003 crash in Antarctica.
• Omega – This first watch on the moon. These Speedmaster Professional watches were not made especially for NASA, but were purchased retail in Houston, Texas, and worn by astronaut missions, and spacewalks.

The Best Entry-Level Rolex Watch

The Rolex Explorer reference 1016 is considered one of the best entry-level Rolex watches for collectors. This vintage watch is more readily available than other Explorers, such as the rare reference 6610 which immediately preceded it. Experts conclude that for every 20 refs 1016s, there is 1 ref 6610. The two timepieces look very similar, however, they can be quickly identified by the signature. Ref 1016 features the “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” signature as opposed to the “Officially Certified Chronometer” signature of the 6610.

Images courtesy of Bob’s Watches

The Longest-Running Explorer Reference

While this reference is not particularly rare, it is a piece of Rolex history. The longest-running Explorer reference, it was originally produced from 1963 to 1989 and eventually came to be known as the unmistakable Explorer standard. Its simplistic design offers a black matte dial with off-white markers. Like other Oyster watches, it features a screw Oyster case and an increased water resistance level from 50 metres to 100 metres.

The “Hack” Feature

The first round of watches, from the beginning of production to around 1975, featured the calibre 1560 movement. An updated version of the movement, renamed calibre 1570, introduced the “hack” feature which stops the second hand when the winding crown is pulled out to the hand setting position. When the hand is stopped at the “12 o’clock position, the wearer can synchronise the time with that of a known source, such as a phone. At about this time, Rolex also introduced the new Oyster bracelet. It offered specially designed links that were made from solid steel instead of the folded sheet steel of earlier Explorer bracelets.

The Space Dweller

Some rarer versions of this Explorer are signed “Space Dweller.” This unique model was first introduced in the Japanese market in 1963. It was introduced in response to a visit to Japan by the Mercury astronauts. This trial run of the Space Dweller was made to honour these brave men, who were seen as the ultimate explorers in the world at the time. Despite this, the watch was not a big seller in Japan or elsewhere in the world. As a result, there are few signed Explorer Space Dwellers with this reference.

Purchase From A Reputable Dealer

Though this watch is considered your “average” Explorer, it is still a fantastic watch that should hold a place in a reputable Rolex watch collection. However, there are many poor examples of this reference on the market, so be sure to purchase from a reputable dealer who can offer a quality version.