Part of the Collection Privée Cartier Paris, this Cartier Tank à Guichets is an intriguing piece that features a closed-off dial with a digital display and jumping hours. Rendered in rose gold, it is part of a limited series of 100 pieces. Of Cartier’s most notable, iconic models, the Tank à Guichets in one of the the rarest in its execution. Some of the other iconic models - such as the Cintrée, Crash, or Cloche - have been reissued in modern times, whilst the Tank à Guichets remains remarkably scarce.

Introduced in 2004, as part of the Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP), this Cartier Tank à Guichets is testament to Cartier’s inventive spirit, repurposing the brand’s core design principles to create a daring new aesthetic. The piece was based off the original Tank à Guichets from 1928, which was worn by luminaries such as Duke Ellington and Gary Cooper and has spawned various iterations since.

Much in the same way that the Crash reimagined the classic Cartier case, the design of the Tank à Guichets is similarly intriguing. With this piece, while it retains Cartier’s signature tank-shaped case, we see that the dial is completely closed off and features a digital display with jumping hours. Despite its simple layout, the piece remains one of the most singular designs that Cartier has ever created.

This rose gold Cartier Tank à Guichets is part of a limited series of 100 pieces and was produced in fewer numbers than an earlier platinum version, which was limited to 150 pieces. The piece also has slightly larger proportions compared to the 1928 version, in keeping with its modern aesthetics. Only a handful of Tank à Guichets watches have been produced in the last few decades, making this model far rarer than some of the other coveted Cartier pieces.

Powered by the calibre 9752 MC, which was based on a Piaget ébauche, the movement is particularly complex thanks to the great precision and energy needed for the hour disc to “jump” suddenly when the hour changes, which makes it a subtle but powerful complication.

A Collected Man will be donating an amount equivalent to the total selling price of the highest-performing watch to the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

If sold within the United Kingdom, this CPCP Tank à Guichets will be subject to 20% VAT.

Closer look

This Cartier Tank à Guichets is in very good condition overall, with a few superficial marks consistent with light wear over time. The case appears to be unpolished, displaying the appropriate graining on the brushed surfaces and polishing on the bevelled edges. The most notable imperfections on the case are visible on the brushed portions, with superficial surface imperfections visible on the bottom right corner of the front, lower portion of the right side (at 5 o’clock) and the caseback. These imperfections sit on the surface of case material and don’t noticeably interrupt the grain, nor the deep engraving on the caseback. There is also a small scratch on the front of the case near the centre, at 3 o’clock, which is really only visible when angled towards the light, and a small ding below the crown on the polished edge of the case. The case screw heads are all matching in terms of colour and appear unblemished.

The watch also includes the original screw attachments for the strap, as well as the original Cartier strap and rose gold Cartier deployant clasp. The watch comes with a two-year warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.