Cartier Tank Solo ref. 3170 "Python" - Steel - 2014 (full set)

The Tank you won’t be able to resist

Description

How could your eye not be drawn first to the dial motif, inspired by the geometric pattern of snake scales? A second wink appears on the strap: not only is the pattern echoed, but the strap itself is crafted from genuine scaled leather.

We then recognise the Tank Solo reference 3170 in steel. With its 24 × 31 mm stainless-steel case, it offers a beautiful alternative to the yellow-gold Tank Louis Cartier. The deployant clasp and the strap are, of course, both signed Cartier. It is worth noting that on these generations of Tank with deployant clasps, the strap is easily adjustable, a truly practical detail. Try a deployant clasp once, and you’ll never go back!

This Tank Solo comes with its presentation box, certificate booklet, and Cartier service papers.

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

How to wear it?

This watch is a statement piece in its own right. It’s up to you whether you choose it as the bold touch to elevate a more classic outfit, or as the perfect complement to an already daring and expressive style.

This Tank Solo with its “python” dial will undoubtedly add a distinctive twist to your look — always with elegance, as befits a Cartier watch. Worn on its matching strap for a confident statement, or on a more classic strap to soften its character — which will you choose? It will appeal to those who appreciate singular watches, fashion enthusiasts, and collectors alike.

Why did Françoise choose it?

First and foremost, because Françoise loves discovering these slightly wild dials created by Cartier and offering alternatives to the Tank Louis. How could one not fall for a Cartier that plays with its own codes and classical heritage, while standing apart from its more restrained and traditional gold predecessors?

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, a white dial with Roman numerals and a railway-track minute scale.

With the Must de Cartier line, and especially the Tank Must, Cartier democratised its iconic design without compromising its DNA: identical dimensions, but cases in vermeil or silver, predominantly 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, larger dimensions, flatter lines, and, most of the time, 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-pattern dials like this one, leopard motifs, satin finishes, or poetic piano-inspired designs.

Limited edition for a specific country or boutique? Anniversary edition? Hard to say, but impossible for Françoise to pass up!

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 and discreet version combining steel and a quartz movement, often distinguished by highly creative dials.