Cartier Tank Louis - 'London'
The Cartier Tank was one of the first wristwatches. Full stop!
Inspired by the Renault Tanks used on the battlefield in WWI - yes, thats a true story - the Cartier Tank Louis is one of the worlds most iconic watch designs, and well over one hundred-years old at that. Revolutionary at the time - Cartier took the look of the tank's perpendicular treads and integrated it to the lugs, by way of brancards making it part of the case itself. Over the 20th Century, the Tank became the watch to wear. Silent movie stars like Rudolph Valentino, artists like Andy Warhol, and even Jackie Kennedy were all fans of the signature timepiece from the King of Jewelers and the Jeweler of Kings.
The model was first introduced in a few different case shapes which bore different names that intertwine with the inspiration behind them.
Perhaps the most significant, well-known, and debatably desirable of these first pieces, the Tank Louis Cartier, was introduced in 1922 and was named after Louis Cartier himself. When people think of a Cartier Tank, theres a good change that this is the model that comes to mind.
The Tank that we have here is a variation of that original model — though with a few very subtle differences than most Tank LCs...
Dating to circa 1965, it features a 23mm x 31mm rectangular case in excellent condition for its age, showing signs of only a very light previous polishing and normal wear. The dial within is later, with printed black 'Roman' numeral indices we well as a 'chemin de fer' minute rack and an always beautiful blued-steel 'sword' handset — which is complimented that ubiquitous blue sapphire cabochon crown. The best part about this particular tank is hidden within the case in the form of a few hallmarks that denote this piece was retailed at Cartier in London — giving it the colloquial name "London Tank."
Accompanied by a Cartier signed strap with a period yellow gold deployant clasp, this is probably what you think of when you hear "Cartier Tank" and thats for good reason. This one has a rare hidden twist for one lucky owner.
Watch + Condition Details
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Bracelet
Shipping, Returns, & Warranty
At Oliver & Clarke, domestic shipping is on us! If you are international and require a quote – please feel free to reach out to us at info@oliverandclarke.com so we can get you squared away.
Returns (accepted within 3 days of initial delivery of your purchase) must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. For payments via Credit Card, a 5% restocking fee will be in place for any returns or cancellations in order to cover our processing fee. Of course, watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.
If you happen to trade a watch with us, which we welcome, trades are final, except of course if the watch is grossly misdescribed or misrepresented.
We back each Oliver & Clarke timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty starting at the date of first delivery. We service or perform necessary maintenance to the extent necessary to all of our watches, unless otherwise noted. All watches are listed and sold running and functioning as intended.
*Please note that due to the vintage or antique nature of many of our watches, these machines may not run as accurately as they did when new, nor will any mechanical timepiece keep time as accurately as a quartz or electronic device.
We do not guarantee water resistance, thus do not warranty against moisture incursion or water damage.
*We also do not recommend deliberate exposure to water or worse - steam!
Our warranty is voided under the following circumstances:
- Internal or external damage caused by an accident, mishandling, abuse, modification, or handling/service performed by a third party individual other than one of our own.
Our warranty is non-transferable.
The Oliver & Clarke Guarantee
Through rigorous vetting of each watch offered, we’re able to guarantee authenticity of our pieces. Ultimately, your satisfaction is our mission, as is helping you get YOUR perfect watch. If you have any questions at all, we will get back to you ASAP.
Each of our timepieces are vetted, evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our experienced team prior to sale. We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise disclosed. We guarantee the authenticity of each watch in perpetuity.
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From Rolex & Patek Philippe, to Cartier & Audemars Piguet. As collectors first, we love the small details that separate the Submariner from Daytona and Calatrava from Royal Oak. This is why you'll find our curated assortment spans decades of generations of models and brands. We believe that watches don't just tell time, they tell history - and life is too short to wear a boring watch.
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