Cartier Tank Solo ref. 3170 "Piano" - Steel - c. 2010 (full set)

The Tank with harmonious dissonances

Description

A steel Tank? Here is the Tank Solo, reference 3170, offered with its original box and papers.

With its 24 × 31 mm stainless-steel case, it is a beautiful alternative to the yellow-gold Tank Louis Cartier. This Tank stands out for its originality, thanks to a dial reminiscent of piano keys, a dial you won’t often come across. It is fitted with a black alligator leather strap that can be kept or changed according to your mood, and a steel deployant clasp, both signed Cartier. Try a deployant clasp once, and you’ll never go back.

This Tank offers a different interpretation of the yellow-gold Tank Louis Cartier. It boldly breaks with the classic Tank codes while preserving the essential characteristics of its predecessor: the iconic rectangular case design, flatter lateral brancards, and blued hands.

Why did Françoise choose it?

First and foremost, because Françoise loves uncovering these slightly unconventional dials created by Cartier and offering alternatives to the Tank Louis.

So how do you navigate between the Tank Louis of the 1920s, the Tank Must of the 1970s, and the Tank Solo of the 2000s?

The Tank Louis is the most precious, the most classic, and the most timeless: yellow gold, white dial with Roman numerals and a railway-track minute scale.

With the Must de Cartier line, and particularly the Tank Must, Cartier democratised its iconic design without compromising its DNA: identical proportions, but cases in vermeil or silver, mostly quartz movements, and colourful or patterned dials that break free from established codes.

The Tank Solo appeared later, conceived as a contemporary gateway into the Tank universe. It features a steel case, slightly larger dimensions, flatter lines, and most often classic dials that echo the codes of the Tank Louis. Françoise fell in love with the limited editions of the Tank Solo that embrace the spirit of the Tank Must in an even more boldly original way. The idea of collecting them greatly appeals to her, which is why she seeks them out: python or leopard motifs, satin finishes, or poetic piano-inspired dials like this one.

This Tank Solo with its "piano" dial will undoubtedly add a distinctive touch to your outfit, always with style, as befits a Cartier watch. Worn on a colourful strap for a confident look or on a more classic strap to soften its character: which will you choose? It will appeal to those who appreciate more singular watches, to music lovers, and to collectors alike.

History

The Tank watch first appeared in 1917, known as the Tank Normale. Created in honour of the heroes of the First World War, its design was inspired by the 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.

In the early 2000s, Cartier developed a more “everyday” and accessible Tank line: the Tank Solo, a practical, discreet version combining steel and a quartz movement, often distinguished by particularly creative dials.