This is the Cartier Tank Reverso. Established in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier in Paris, Cartier was arguably the first household name to merge fine jewellery and watchmaking into artisanal instruments of time. The introduction of the brand’s flagship Santos in 1904 paved the way for its highly successful Tank in 1917 and these two models have been synonymous with the brand ever since.

Being one of its most recognizable models, it is no surprise that the Tank has been the model with the most variations. Essentially a canvas for creation, the Tank has spawned several derivatives in all shapes and sizes and the Cartier Tank Reverso remains one of the most idiosyncratic and esoteric within the many iterations.

Introduced by the brand in the 1970s, the Cartier Reverso is reminiscent of the iconic Reverso by Jaeger-LeCoultre given that it flips along the horizontal plane of the case. A lesser-known sibling of the Tank Basculante that flips vertically, the whimsical Cartier Tank Reverso was produced for less than a decade and has never been reintroduced since.

Featuring both single and dual-face configurations, the Cartier Tank Reverso features several characteristics distinct to the brand such as the railway inner minute track surrounded by large Roman numerals and the blue cabochon crown. The case is rectangular with soft angles and is closer to a Tank Arrondie than a regular Cartier Tank. Simply put, it is unlike most Cartier Tanks of its time.

While Cartier is often lauded for its form rather than function, the Cartier Tank Reverso is proof that the brand takes both into equal consideration. With a reversible case allowing for either a second time zone or the protection of the dial, the Tank Reverso is both elegant and practical and remains one of the most special creations among 70s Cartiers.