Cartier Tank Cintrée in Platinum - Limited to 100 pieces

Origin

The trailblazing and elusive Cartier curve. 

Cartier's watchmaking during the 1900s had sparked flutters of interest and curiosity. Heads had been turned as the brilliant jewellers had started to carve their own, distinct path in the market of timepieces. With the dawn of the 1920s however, Cartier's inherent feel for exemplary design would lead the brand to initiate a revolution in terms of wristwatch style. Cartier's limitless creativity and innovation in this field put the maison in a league of its own, the Tank Cintrée being perhaps the most exemplary product of this extraordinary moment of intense imagination and creation. 

The Cintrée first appeared in 1921, just two years after the very first Tank, the Tank Normale, had been launched commercially. If the Tank Normale had rocked the boat with its novel design, then the Tank Cintrée was the design that made the boat capsize. Cartier elongated the case of the Tank to the maximum and with this elongation allowed the case to rise into a very slight and graceful curve that when worn would blend effortlessly with the wrist. Viewed from the side, the case could not be more subtle; yet viewed from above, the case spectacularly eclipsed the wrist - albeit in a very streamlined and elegant manner. Exceptional and radical aesthetic design that most likely stunned Cartier's unsuspecting audience in the 1920s and remains just as captivating for their audience today. 

The curve of the case on the Tank Cintrée has of course been a steadfast constant in the relatively few and highly sought-after models released over the years. Other aspects of the design such as case height, length, size and dial features, have all taken various forms creating some striking and unique pieces which have been favoured by several celebrities including Fred Astaire and Steve McQueen.

The watch

Exceptionally elegant, impeccably well put together and with a glint of majesty that is just so Cartier. This is the Tank that walked into the room looking devastatingly good, provoking that gasp of intrigue, that hint of envy but ultimately, that gentle nod and soft smile of complete and utter admiration. Yes, this platinum Cintrée is one of those watches.

As streamlined and smooth as it gets, this is a limited edition Cartier Tank Cintrée with reference number 4124. Presented on the occasion of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in 2018, this delicately modern take on a piece of glorious Cartier heritage was created in yellow gold, pink gold and Cartier's metal of choice - platinum. Setting it apart from its gold counterparts, the production of the platinum version presented here was limited to just 100 pieces, making it not only exceptionally elegant but exceptionally exclusive to boot.

The finely curved case measures 46.3 mm by 23mm and sits at 7.2mm in height, its sweeping, polished brancards perfectly envelop the wrist, lying in distinct contrast to the rest of the case which is entirely satin-brushed. Four subtle screws can be found on each side of the watch, while on the signed solid caseback engravings including the piece's edition number are to be found.

The platinum hue of the case is wonderfully and continuously woven into the dial, which is fashioned in a lightly-grained, soft grey. The railway minute track marker and signature take a leaf out of the book of classic Cartier in terms of form but are given a touch of the contemporary with their grey colouring. This beautiful blend of past and present continues with the hour markers; polished, rather more traditional Arabic numerals mark the 12 and 6, while sleek, polished stick indexes mark the rest of the hours. A barely-there 'swiss made' sits just below the 6. This highly elegant, gentle and sophisticated grey ensemble is broken only by the blackened-steel hands and of course, the striking ruby red cabochon of the beaded crown. This dart of rich colour combined with the slight and rather delightful opulence of the polished 12 and 6 serve as an exquisite reminder that we are still very much within the king of jewellers realm.

The Movement

This limited edition Cartier piece is powered by the manually-wound Calibre 8971 MC, which is based upon Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Calibre 846. The slim movement contains 19 jewels and is rhodium plated. Its balance vibrates at 28,800 times per hour and the watch power reserve, when fully wound, is 36 hours.

How it wears

Like a dream. The Tank Cintrée is hard to beat in terms of style/comfort ratio. The form of the case allows the watch to sit perfectly and seamlessly on the wrist whilst projecting a highly elegant and ordered aesthetic. 

Condition & Set

This limited Cartier Tank Cintrée in platinum is in very good condition with slight signs of wear on the case. It is a truly desirable piece of Cartier that comes with its full set: both inner and outer boxes, manual and warranty card. Its original platinum pin buckle is also included.  

If you desire to take a closer look at this precious timepiece, don't hesitate to contact us and make an appointment. Viewings by appointment only.

We are based in Ghent, Belgium
No stock kept on site