Cartier Tank Cintrée NSO - Yellow gold - Burgundy

The Watch

Speak to those deep into a long-term relationship with Cartier, and it becomes apparent that the Cintrée often tops the list as the ultimate model in a collection. Its stretched and curved form, paired with the exploded numerals, makes its Art Deco nature endlessly charming and comprehensively Cartier. However, this reference 4123 is a touch extra special as it hails from the revered Cartier NSO Program, making it a one-of-one creation. Dating from 2023, this modern-day Cintrée carries a classic external execution, with an 18k yellow gold rendering and a high polish finish to the distinctive vertical brancards flanking the watch. A profile look reveals the real magic of the Cintrée’s case, as its svelteness and curve envelop the wrist with minimal effort. Such is the beautiful restraint of the Tank; the only remaining external detail of prominence is a beaded crown sitting at three with a burgundy sapphire cabochon.

The dial is where the heart of this NSO creation resides, with the only element that can be classified as conventional being the railroad track. While the dial may appear like a classic Cartier silver, here it's a shade of eggshell cream, a decision that adds to the overall warmth of the piece and better pairs with the burgundy colour of the dial printing. The exploded Arabic numerals are the most significant point of interest. Their design is based upon the 2004 CPCP Cintrée, which is a tribute to a luminous 1929 Cintrée known as the 'Fred Astaire' and worn by the man himself. While not as seldom seen as expected, using blued pomme watch hands for Tanks is always a delight that overloads the allure. Tying the entire appearance of this romantically realised Cintrée is a burgundy calf strap. 

The Movement

The Cartier calibre 8971 MC powers this NSO Cintrée, providing 38 hours of autonomy from manual winding. Based upon the Jaeger-LeCoultre 846/1, this straightforward movement is perfect for a design-led piece like the Cintrée.

How It Wears

The Cintrée is one of the pinnacles of individual wrist presence. Bold in its proportions yet able to maintain wearability,  the magic of the Cintree lies in its gently curved case. This creates an angle and case shape designed to follow the curvature of the wrist, resulting in a timepiece that's striking in presence while also highly wearable. It's a watch anyone familiar with Cartier will instantly recognise as something special – and there isn't another like it.

Condition

This 2023 Cartier Cintrée NSO is sold as a full set and is complete with its Cartier yellow gold folding buckle and original Burgundy calf strap.

Origin

While Cartier is eternally Parisian at heart, international business was fundamental to their worldwide expansion during the 20th century. London was the second location Cartier expanded to outside of France, and the first showroom opened in 1902 to coincide with King Edward VII's coronation. In 1906, one of Louis-François Cartier's grandsons, Jacques Cartier, took over the London showroom from his brother Pierre before moving to 175-176 New Bond Street, where they remain today. Pierre left to establish Cartier New York, the third string to Cartier's bow, and famously secured 653 Park Avenue by trading a pearl necklace for the building in 1916. Each location developed a specific style to reflect the client base of each country, but some watches, like the Cartier Cintrée, were produced across the board. 

First created in Paris in 1921, the Cintrée is one of the most universally agreed upon sophisticated evolutions of the Tank Louis. Notably larger and more commanding than any other wristwatch at the time, early Cintrée models were undoubtedly a product of their era. The curved case stretched brancards and exploded Roman numerals mirror the elaborate glamour of Art Deco, and throughout the 20th century, the appreciation for the Cintrée was unwavering. Today, many connoisseurs still regard the Cintrée as the ultimate Cartier, making it a popular choice for NSO orders. 

Cartier's NSO (New Special Order) program is a service offered to clients whereby customised designs and executions can become a reality. Over the years, many images of NSO creations have made their way online, ranging from subtle and classically based concepts to executions that would typically never have existed without the program. NSO creations have become some of the most celebrated watches from Cartier's modern lineup.

If you desire to take a closer look at this precious timepiece, don't hesitate to contact us and make an appointment. We are based in Ghent, Belgium

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