Cartier Tank Must Medium Red - Mechanical - c. 1970

Must, a welcome twist on the legendary Tank

 Description

Retaining the stylistic characteristics of its predecessor, the Tank Must breaks away in two radical ways. Firstly, it utilizes gold-plated (or silver) materials, rather than solid gold, which significantly reduces the price tag! And of course, the dial! Leaving the traditional combo of Roman numerals on a matte white dial, a Tank Must always offers incredible dials, some lacquered, some with Arabic numerals, or some closer to classic Cartier. Here, Françoise presents one of the boldest dials, which was, in fact, among the first ones featured in vintage advertisements.

What made the Tank successful remains unchanged, especially its size! The medium size is perfectly suited for a feminine wrist: it sits beautifully on the wrist, to the point where Françoise often forgets she's even wearing one ! 

Furthermore, this particular piece belongs to one of the first generations of the Tank Must, equipped with a mechanical movement, in homage to Cartier's more than a century-old horological tradition!

Why did Françoise choose it ?

Françoise has a penchant for the audacious dial designs that Cartier offers with the Tank Must collection. These eye-catching dials break away from the conventional style, adding a contemporary touch to the classic Tank design. The use of gold-plated or silver materials makes the Tank Must a more accessible choice, without compromising on the iconic design and appeal that has made the Tank collection timeless. With its medium size, the Tank Must harmoniously adorns a feminine wrist, exuding elegance and sophistication. This vintage-inspired timepiece, complete with a mechanical movement, carries on Cartier's legacy of watchmaking excellence and tradition. 

Françoise loves the Must in all colors and the Cartier red version is an obvious choice. 

History

The first Tank, known as Normale, imagined in 1917, gave way, in 1922, to the Tank Louis Cartier, whose design remains unchanged. Through its Must line, Cartier intends to revisit the codes of luxury by offering more accessible pieces, like Van Cleef & Arpels and its Boutique . It was not until 1976 that the Tank Must was presented, as the first gold plated watch for La Maison, then available in a wide variety of dials. It's a beautiful and a bold nod to its older sister : the quieter Tank Louis.