Pre-Owned Cartier by Analog Shift 0 40950036/AS04794

Why We Love It

Cartier: Elegant and timeless.

Cartier has a reputation for greatness in luxury for good reason. The Tank Louis Cartier is a staple at the forefront of the Mega Fashion label that is Cartier. With its instantly recognizable rectangular case, you can spot one from a mile away.

This particular example, part of the 'Must de Cartier' line, has a multi-tone dial which gives it a svelte, minimalist look over its Roman-dialed counterparts. The gold plated case is in excellent condition throughout, with minimal signs of oxidation and no signs of deterioration or polish - both of which are frequently seen on these models. As with most Tank models, this watch features a sapphire cabochon crown for winding the mechanical movement featured inside.

The Tank is, without question, an icon of design, and this one has a lot going for it in the looks/value departments. Whether paired with a t-shirt, linen suit, or cocktail dress - the Cartier Tank Louis is a classic that stands in a category unto itself.

The Cartier Story

Despite being a purveyor of haute joaillerie, Cartier has had a long tradition of making watches.

It started in 1907, when founder Louis Cartier made what was arguably the very first wristwatch for his friend Alberto Santos-Dumont. In the following years, the brand made a name for itself with its most famous wristwatch, the Tank, in all its multitudinous forms.

Cartier introduced the Tank in 1917, with a run of six pieces - given, or so the legend goes, to American General Joseph Pershing and his staff. The design of the Tank was inspired by the Renault FT-17 tanks Cartier seen on the battlefields of World War I. Cartier took the look of the Renault tank's treads and applied it to the lugs, which were integrated via brancards into the case itself. That first run of six pieces increased to thirty-three by 1920, and by the end of the 20th Century, that number stood well in the hundreds of thousands. In sheer volume alone, the Tank - in all its various models - is Cartier's largest line of watches. 

The Tank Louis was introduced in 1922, following close on the heels of the Asian-influenced Tank Chinoise. The Tank Chinoise, released amidst a mania for jewelry inspired by the Orient, has a square rather than rectangular case and lugs that resemble the portico of a Chinese pagoda.

From its debut, it would see many variations, each in keeping with Louis Cartier’s taste for clean lines and perfect symmetry. Each variant, from the original Tank, Tank Louis or the Cintrée with its flirtatious, curvaceous lines, had its passionate devotees. Rudolph Valentino, that sensual star of the silver screen, insisted on wearing his Tank onscreen in The Son of the Sheik, and Clark Gable, Andy Warhol, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis were among those who sported a Tank throughout the years.

The Must de Cartier line came about in the 1970s after Cartier changed ownership and decided to create a more accessibly priced line to broaden their market share.

The Must de Cartier Tank Louis is virtually the same as the standard Tank, at least in every way that is visible to the eye.

To save money, Cartier used gold vermeil cases (gold plated sterling silver) instead of solid gold, and 9 times out of 10, a quartz movement.

Manually winding Must de Cartier watches are seldom seen and present an incredible value compared to a solid gold Tank.