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After the presentation of the yellow gold version in celebration of the model’s 100th anniversary and after the announcement of the patino variant, which we told you about in a dedicated article, Cartier has just unveiled a new and exclusive Tank Cintrée.
This time it is a watch to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the boutique at 16 Via Monte Napoleone, Milan, and one that holds within it references to the Italian city, combined with the timeless appeal of the French maison’s model.
Without getting lost in further chatter, let us now explore the new Cartier Tank Cintrée Montenapoleone.
The birth of the Cartier Tank Cintrée
Before discovering in detail the Parisian fashion house’s new watch dedicated to the Italian fashion capital, I think it is interesting to briefly go over the history of the Tank Cintrée collection.
Designed by Cartier in 1917, the Tank has become a true icon of the maison and the entire watchmaking world.
The idea with which the watch was born, was to want to create a case that would merge with the lugs and bracelet, almost to become the whole as a single element. The shape of the case, as can be inferred from the model’s name “Tank,” meaning “tank,” was inspired by the war crawlers that were introduced in those years by the U.S. Army on the battlefields of World War I.
From there on, the “traditional” “tank” shape of Cartier’s case was the inspiration for the expansion of the Tank collection. In fact, a few years later, in 1921, the Tank Cintrée was presented, a watch with a curved rectangular case that perfectly fit the shape of the wrist.
Initially made in yellow gold, combined with the iconic Roman numeral dial, the Tank Cintrée was soon also made in platinum in 1923. From there on, the collection knew different variations including, among the most recent, a version with a skeleton dial, made in 2017.
Today, more than 100 years after the model’s birth, the French maison presents an exclusive version dedicated to the Milan boutique, marking the 50th anniversary of its opening at 16 Via Monte Napoleone.
The new Cartier Tank Cintrée Montenapoleone
The new watch from the Paris-born maison founded back in 1847 is inspired by the heritage of the city of Milan and its coat of arms marked by the large red cross in the center.
Color that is echoed on both the watch strap and the dial. Indeed, above the latter, which features a design inspired by the model introduced by Cartier in 2004 with Arabic numerals, we find the number 1 of the 12 and the 6 in a fantastic burgundy color. Emphasis has been placed on the two numbers that stand for house number 16 of the Cartier Boutique on Via Monte Napoleone in Milan.
The remaining gray-colored numerals are perfectly ambiant to the silver galvanized opaline dial, above which are the “chemin de fer”-style minute scale and black apple-shaped hour and minute hands.
The platinum case measures 46.3 x 23 mm and is only 6.9 mm thick. Located at 3 o’clock is the winding crown embellished with a cabochon-cut ruby, a true signature of the house for its platinum-cased watches.
Powering Cartier’s new Tank Cintrée is the caliber 1917 MC, an in-house hand-wound movement.
What do we think
As a great lover of Cartier and, in particular, of the Tank collection, I can only admire this new creation of the maison that, moreover, is now dedicated to an Italian city.
What has always set the French maison apart is the fact that it has created timeless designs for its watches, which, for more than 100 years, have continued to make all fans of the world of hands fall in love with their shapes.
With this new version of the Tank Cintrée, Cartier has once again succeeded in making an already iconic model, even more appealing by creating a highly exclusive and, above all, celebratory timepiece.
Price
The new Cartier Tank Cintrée Montenapoleone will be sold at a list price of EUR 32,100.
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