This is the Cartier Tank reference 96019. The history of the Cartier Tank is one that barely needs any introduction, given that it has been covered excessively. The origins of the Tank began in 1917, inspired by war machines of the same name. Given the success of the original Tank, Cartier began to vary the types of Tank to leverage on the success of the model. Among the many Cartier timepieces, the Tank is arguably their most recognizable model alongside the Santos.

Being a highly popular and identifiable model from Cartier, it’s no surprise that the Tank has been the model with the most variations since its introduction. An icon that put the brand on the map, it remains one of the most noteworthy time-only pieces. Hailing from the 1970s, the reference 96019 was introduced after the reunification of the brand in 1972. Running on an ultra-thin Frederic Piguet Cal. 21, the reference was fondly referred to as the Extra-Plat due to the ultra-thin proportions enabled by the movement while retaining the height and width of a classic Cartier Tank. The reference preceded the renowned reference 96065 that often came accompanied with a guilloche dial and a slightly thicker case profile.

When one speaks of Cartier, the allure draws from the unique and distinctive case shapes. As a jewellery powerhouse, it’s clear that their eye for design has carried over into their timepieces and rather than focusing on competing on watchmaking, the brand has carved a niche to set itself apart. In many ways, the Tank is wholly representative of Cartier with its unapologetic and unwavering confidence of evolving while never changing its essence.