Cartier Tank Arrondie Extra-flat ref. 96041 - Mechanical - c. 1980 (box and service papers)

The Tank that softens the angles

Description

A gold case, protruding lateral brancards, a railway-track minute scale, blued hands, and a winding crown topped with a sapphire cabochon: all the signature codes of the Cartier Tank are present. Instantly recognisable for its iconic design, this watch has lost none of its charm. It is elegant, practical, and exceptionally comfortable on the wrist.

This Cartier Tank Arrondie (ref. 96041) stands out for its delicately rounded, slimmer lines, which soften the geometric rigour of the original design. Crafted in 18-carat yellow gold, this extra-flat version will appeal first and foremost to those who favour slim watches that naturally follow the lines of the hand.

This is also a watch for connoisseurs, as it features a manual-winding movement and a “Paris” dial, the Maison’s discreet signature indicating Parisian manufacture. The watch comes with its service invoice, noting in particular that the dial and hands were replaced in 2025, same as the original one. Thanks to its white dial, it can be paired with a strap of your choice, according to taste and season, and is fitted with a gold-plated Cartier pin buckle.

It offers a fine, elegant silhouette, almost jewel-like, resting lightly on the wrist. A watch of great restraint, where every detail is perfectly mastered. Here, the Cartier Tank is reimagined in a softer, more subtle interpretation.

Why did Françoise choose it?

Because this is a watch one can only recommend. To Françoise, it embodies a more discreet, less severe interpretation of the Tank Louis, a balance between the rigour of straight lines and the softness of rounded edges. It is essential both historically and stylistically. A watch that will never lose its value, especially with a manual movement and the coveted “Paris” signature.

It is, above all, a watch made to be passed down with pleasure, a piece that unites technique and aesthetics, where functionality, elegance, and watchmaking prowess come together. The Tank “was brilliantly created to remain eternally contemporary,” which is why we place our complete trust in it.

Finally, it is a rarer and more sought-after model. Its extra-flat profile and harmonious proportions make it an ideal everyday watch, just as elegant with formal attire as with a more relaxed wardrobe, the discreet expression of true luxury. A watch that is a pleasure to wear and to admire. 

History

The Tank watch first appeared in 1917, known as the “Normale,” created in honour of the heroes of the First World War and inspired by the design of early military tanks. Five years later came the Tank Louis Cartier, a model very similar to the original, but with a more elongated dial and slimmer, rounded brancards. Several generations followed, preserving the same identity codes while adapting to new watchmaking technologies, such as quartz.

The Tank Arrondie, and more specifically reference 96041, emerged in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, a period during which Cartier revisited its classics with greater finesse and lightness. The case angles softened, the lines became more fluid, giving rise to a more sensual Tank.

Produced in limited quantities, the Tank Arrondie never achieved the widespread diffusion of other Tank variations. Today, it is considered a true collector’s piece, emblematic of a creative era in which Cartier masterfully combined tradition, elegance, and modernity.