
Jonathan Darracott
Global Head
Sold for £94,000 inc. premium
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Head of sale, Knightsbridge
Head of Department
Senior Cataloguer
The Tank Cintrée entered into the Cartier Tank family in 1921 back when Cartier were at the early stages of wristwatch design. At this time there were no rules and the norm of a circular dial was not entrenched. Cartier investigated and experimented with many versions based on the Tank which they already knew was popular. The Tank Cintrée was an extreme example of these investigations and although it seems acceptable now, the long rectangular shape and the curved case back conforming to the wrist was seen as outlandish at the time. It was therefore made in just a small quantity but remains one of the best known designs from the founding years of wristwatch making.
Platinum was a fairly new material being incorporated into wristwatch design offering a bright silver colour without being susceptible to tarnish like silver or dulling in colour like the white gold available at the time. It makes it an enduring zeitgeist of the period that looks equally as stunning and eye catching today as it was when it was first introduced.