Cartier Privé Tank À Guichets: A New Chapter For An Iconic Timepiece
Cartier Privé continues its annual tradition of reviving legendary models, presenting the latest reinterpretation of a classic: the Tank à Guichets. Originally introduced in 1928, this distinctive watch now returns with modern refinements while preserving its innovative digital time display.
A Glimpse into History
The late 1920s saw rapid advancements in transportation, with automobiles and trains becoming part of everyday life. The need for easily readable timepieces led Cartier to introduce the Tank à Guichets in 1928. This avant-garde design eliminated traditional hands, instead displaying time through two apertures—one for the hours and another for the minutes—marking a significant departure from conventional watchmaking.
Throughout the 1930s, Cartier experimented with various design elements for the Tank à Guichets, from the shape of the apertures to the positioning of the winding crown and choice of materials. The watch made a celebrated return in 1997 for Cartier’s 150th anniversary in a limited run of 150 platinum pieces. In 2005, it was reintroduced as part of the Collection Privée Cartier Paris in a rose gold edition limited to 100 units.
The New Tank à Guichets: A Contemporary Revival
For 2024, Cartier presents an updated Tank à Guichets featuring a hand-wound 9755 MC movement, specifically developed for this model. This calibre includes jumping hours and dragging minutes, maintaining the functionality of the original design. The signature crown remains at 12 o’clock, a nod to its historical predecessor.
The new iteration boasts a satin-finished case contrasted by polished horizontal brancards, accentuating its elegant form. The central face, available in brushed gold or platinum, further refines the aesthetic. While the square hour window reveals only Arabic numerals, the circular minute window joins the Arabic numerals with a railway minute track on a white background. With the yellow gold version coming with dry green accents, the rose gold variant in black, and the two platinum ones in burgundy.
The watches are paired with hand-stitched alligator leather straps and matching hardware, in shades of green (yellow gold), anthracite (rose gold), burgundy (platinum), and black (platinum limited edition).
The hand-wound movement Calibre 9755 MC powers these timepieces. The square cases are made of 750 gold or 950 platinum, measuring 24.8 mm in width, 6 mm in thickness, and 37.60 mm in length. Notably, these watches are not water-resistant.
Cartier offers two distinct versions of this revived icon:
Classic Configuration: Faithful to the 1928 model, this version features the hour aperture at 12 o’clock and the minute aperture at 6 o’clock. It is available in yellow gold, rose gold, and platinum.
Limited-Edition Platinum Variant: This exclusive edition of 200 numbered pieces reinterprets the design with apertures positioned at an angle, evoking the creativity and artistic exploration of the 1930s.
A Timeless Tribute to Innovation
The Cartier Privé Tank à Guichets stands as a testament to the Maison’s ability to blend heritage with modernity. By reviving this unique digital-display timepiece, Cartier once again celebrates its legacy of technical mastery and artistic refinement, ensuring its place among the most coveted collector’s pieces of today.
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General Specifications:
Brand: Cartier
Collection: Privé
Model: Tank à Guichets
Dial: 750 yellow gold, 750 rose gold, 950 platinum with two apertures for hour and minutes with a white background
Case Material: 750 yellow gold, 750 rose gold, 950 platinum
Case Dimensions: 24.80 mm Wide, 6 mm thickness, 37.60 mm lug-to-lug
Crystal: Sapphire Glass
Case Back: 750 yellow gold, 750 rose gold, 950 platinum
Water Resistance: No
Strap: Green/dark gray/burgundy/black hand-stitched alligator leather strap with a 750 gold/950 platinum clasp
Calibre: 9755 MC
Functions: Jumping hours, dragging minutes
Winding: Hand-wound
Price: Upon request
Limited Edition: No (yellow gold, rose gold, platinum), yes (platinum limite edition) 200 pieces
