Cartier Mini Tank

DIMEPIECE SAYS: Mini Tank! Mini Tank! Mini Tank! If you’ve at all followed my Dimepiece journey, you know that I can’t get enough of all things mini, so when my business partner Alan Bedwell (aka Foundwell) came across this watch, I knew we had to scoop it up. The Carter Tank itself is enjoying a nice moment in the sun, and it's increasingly rare to find one in this petite size (Jackie O’s choice). It’s even more rare to find one affixed to this haute jewelry bracelet, stamped by Cartier so you know it’s real. Very cool to see such an icon re-imagined with the addition of this bracelet which, by the way, can easily be removed if one day you wanted to replace it with the classique black strap, à la Jackie O. 

THE BASICS:

DATE OF BIRTH: C. 1980’s
MATERIAL: 18k yellow gold
SIZE: 19 x 24mm
MOVEMENT: Quartz
CONDITION: Excellent, unpolished
BOX/PAPERS: No/No

FOUNDWELL SAYS: A solid eighteen carat yellow gold quartz Cartier Tank with an original gold haute jewelry bracelet. The Tank is perhaps one of the most iconic watches of all time (and certainly one that has been desired by and worn by some of the most celebrated figures of the 20th Century to this current day). In fact, it feels that this special gem of watch design is actually entering into a renaissance in its desirability and collectibility – especially original examples from this era.

The watch has all the details that Cartier lovers flock to the brand for – the Roman numeral dial with the hidden signature at the seven o’clock position, chemin de fer minute track, sword blued steel hands and a blue sapphire set winding crown. The dial is in excellent condition with no signs of crazing or damage from moisture or dirt, as can often be the case with these watches that can suffer from not being very tightly sealed. The case is unpolished and all of the stamping and unique Cartier reference numbers are still visible on the case back. The watch is powered by a quartz movement.

The watch sits on a fine and beautifully made solid eighteen carat yellow gold bracelet that would not look out of place in the Cartier jewelry section of the store. The bracelet is opened through a clasp that is seamlessly integrated into the design of the bracelet, the inside of which is fully stamped with Cartier control marks and gold assay marks. This bracelet is not fixed to the watch itself. It is held on by two long screws that run through the lugs of the watch, meaning that if there was a desire to have it on a leather band, this is wholly possible. 

Overall, this is a wonderful and very rare example of the classic Cartier icon with the added benefit of this stunning bracelet. A watch that worked for the likes of Jackie O, who wore this exact small, “mini” size. A size that is increasingly hard to find today.