Jamie Weiss
Cartier’s elegantly curved Tank Cintre?e gets a luxurious 950 platinum makeoverThis limited edition celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Tank Cintree in platinumA thinner case and Jaeger-LeCoultre-sourced movement make this Cintree particularly refinedIntroduced in 1921, the Tank Cintre?e was the first spin-off from the now-iconic Cartier Tank and caused a stir back in the day thanks to its bold, elongated design and curved case. It represented a new way of looking at watches, one informed by Cartier’s status as a jeweller: not just as tools, but as pieces of art. It might not be a household name like the original Tank, but it’s been subtly influential in its own way.In 2021, Cartier celebrated the Tank Cintre?e’s 100th anniversary by releasing a gold limited edition under their exclusive Les Reeditions de Cartier line, being one of the two first watches released under the project. Now, in 2023, Cartier is following that up with an even more luxurious platinum limited-edition take on the Tank Cintre?e, marking the 100th anniversary of the Tank Cintree watch in platinum.The intent of the Les Reeditions de Cartier project is to bring back rare vintage Cartier models as faithfully as possible to the originals. However, the Cartier Les Reeditions Tank Cintre?e Platinum isn’t completely identical to the 1923 model it’s inspired by – indeed, it’s subtly different to the gold Tank Cintre?e from 2021. While this 2023 model maintains the same dimensions as the original 1921 model and the 2021 re-edition – 46.3mm tall and 23mm wide – it’s slightly thinner, slimming down from 6.4mm to 6.03mm.Otherwise, it’s a pretty faithful recreation, boasting a beaded crown topped with a ruby cabochon (a hallmark of platinum Cartier watches); a combination of brushed surfaces and polished brancards; an alligator leather strap with platinum hardware; an eggshell dial with blued Breguet hands and Roman numerals… As well as a mineral crystal and a lack of water resistance, which might disappoint some buyers – not that you’d want to go swimming with a watch like this.Like the 2021 re-edition, the Cartier Les Reeditions Tank Cintre?e Platinum is powered by the calibre 9780 MC, which is Cartier’s designation for the Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 849. This in of itself is a nice touch, as vintage Tank Cintre?es were also powered by JLC movements.At only 1.85mm thick, this movement powers some of the Richemont Group’s thinnest watches, such as the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Knife and the IWC Schaffhausen Portofino Ultra-Thin. This movement also powers the Cartier Les Reeditions Tank Cintre?e in gold from 2021, so it’s interesting that Cartier was able to shave off a few micrometres for this new platinum model.A vintage Tank Cintre?e in platinum from 1925. Note the sapphire cabochon instead of the usual ruby. Image courtesy of Christie’sThe craze for vintage Cartier is well and truly here to stay. Earlier this year, a platinum Tank Cintre?e from 1925 (that was restored by Cartier in 1999, mind you) went under the hammer at Christie’s for a whopping CHF 302,400 – blowing the high?CHF 40,000 estimate out of the water. The Tank Cintre?e has always been one of if not the rarest version of the Tank, and there’s clearly an appetite for platinum Cintre?es, so the timing of this release couldn’t be better for Cartier. Utterly elegant, subtly decadent and exceptionally faithful to the original, this is one dapper watch.Cartier Les Reeditions Tank Cintre?e Platinum pricing and availabilityThe Cartier Les Reeditions Tank Cintre?e Platinum is a limited edition of 150 pieces, available at the end of September 2023, with pricing upon application. Time+Tide have confirmed with Cartier locally that individual markets aren’t receiving exact allocations as availability is entirely dependent on customer interest – similar to the concept done for the Les Reeditions Pebble.BrandCartierModelLes Reeditions Tank Cintre?eReference NumberWGTA0193Case Dimensions23mm (W) x 6.03mm (T) x 46.3mm (LTL)Case Material950 platinumWater ResistanceNot water-resistantCrystalMineral glassDialEggshell curved brassStrapSemi-matte black alligator strap, 950 platinum ardillon buckleMovementCalibre 9780 MC, base Jaeger-LeCoultre 849, manual-windingPower Reserve33 hoursFunctionsHours, minutesAvailabilityLimited edition of 150 pieces, available end of September 2023PricePOA
20.09.23