Cartier Tank Mini Américaine 1380 Yellow Gold quartz 14 x 28 mm with papers

The origins

Since 1917, the Tank has attracted as much as it has fascinated. This model, imagined by Louis Cartier himself, has never gone out of fashion. It has even become a symbol of timelessness and elegance, transcending eras and cultural milieus. This icon of style has taken many forms over the course of its centenary: curved, Chinese, obus, rocker, asymmetrical or even American. It's precisely this last model that we're celebrating today in this Lepage 10h10 selection.

Imagined in 1989 as a more modern interpretation of the classic Tank Cintrée, it takes the elongated, curved design of the 1921 Cintrée, while adapting some of its proportions to contemporary tastes, making it thicker, wider, with a greater presence on the wrist. The watch is clearly inspired by it, with its curved case and bezel, but it also differs in several respects. One of the main differences is that the caseback is flat, in contrast to the dramatic curve of the Cintrée. The result is a watch that still looks curved while being technically easier to manufacture.

For the record, the Américaine was only produced in precious metals, but on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Tank model in 2017, Cartier presented this model in a steel version for the first time.

A timeless model

The reference 1380 we present is a Tank Mini crafted in 750 thousandths yellow gold. The case takes up the classic lines of the original Tank from 1917, which was inspired by the Renault tanks that Louis Cartier had seen at work on the Western Front. Building on the heritage of the Tank Cintrée, the design is elongated and slightly curved, reaching 28 mm by 14 mm. The case hugs the wrist in a way that is both extremely comfortable, yet elegant.

The polished sides of the bezel feature an arched shape, sloping downwards as they reach the ends of the case. The sides of the case are brushed, creating an interesting interplay of textures, with the crown set with a sapphire cabochon that adds a light touch of color.

The grained dial is silver-tone, even eggshell depending on the light reflections. The Roman numerals are stamped directly onto the dial in black ink, while the blued steel hands are executed in the shape of swords, the true DNA of Cartier watches. Of course, there's also the secret signature hidden in the number VII.

With the many iterations of the Tank Américaine over the years, the elegance of this two-hand version here is a sure bet for anyone looking for a watch dressed in yellow gold from one of the greatest Maisons.

This Cartier Tank Américaine "Mini" in yellow gold is powered by a quartz caliber.

The package

This superb piece has been authenticated by our experts and checked by our watchmakers. As such, it benefits from the Lepage Vintage 1-year warranty. This American Tank will be delivered without box but with its papers. This model comes on an alligator leather strap, fitted with the Cartier yellow gold pin buckle.