the watch’s inner mechanisms - even on watches without transparent exhibition casebacks. Next, we verify that the crown cabochon fits correctly, has no wiggle room around the diameter of the stone and is made from the correct stone - sapphire for all 18k models and spinel for two-tone.Ĭartier also does high-end finishing of their movements - i.e. It varies from model to model which number they hide it in, but it’s almost always there. Cartier will usually include these in the 10 o’clock and 7 o’clock markers. If you inspect the markers closely, one will have “Cartier” written out in very small text within a Roman numeral. I also look for the Cartier “secret signature” on the watch dial. The dial should be laid out cleanly and clearly (no blobs of paint where there shouldn’t be and no jagged lines). All edges on a genuine Cartier case should be smooth to the touch with no sharpness or metal burs. I look for high-quality finishing of the case, dial and movement. What elements of craftsmanship do you expect to see on an authentic Cartier Tank watch?

Hallmarks, signatures and stamps should all line up with the hallmark conventions of the moment that we believe it to be produced to confirm that.” Read on as Karin Dickinson, our resident Horologist, elaborates and shares her in-depth tips for spotting the real deal when it comes to the Cartier Tank watch. “We want to check the materials, the design, and the craftsmanship. “Whether we’re authenticating a Cartier Love bracelet, or a Tank watch, the same basic principles apply,” explains Ward. I think it’s one of the most recognizable pieces a person can wear - I have a crush.”īut of course, like all great things, the Cartier Tank watch has been copied and counterfeited, and there’s nothing less luxe than discovering your Cartier watch is a faux. “Including what I think of as their most recognizable and most legibly luxurious product, the Cartier Tank watch. “Cartier is producing some of the best timepieces in the business for over a hundred years now,” says Senior Fine Jewelry & Watches Manager Katie Ward. It’s been worn by everyone from Andy Warhol, Jackie O and Princess Diana to Kim Kardashian, Sofia Coppola and Angelina Jolie. Louis Cartier transformed the Tank watch into a beacon of luxury, forever making horological history. The boxy case of the Cartier Tank watch was inspired by a tank’s cockpit and treads, a haunting reminder of WWI’s lasting effects. Designed in the early 1900s by Louis Cartier, grandson of founder Louis-François Cartier, the Cartier Tank watch officially hit the market in 1919 and became an instant icon. The unisex, understated timepiece - with its expert craftsmanship, clean lines and effortless design - is the embodiment of modernity, a far cry from the ornamentation and sweeping, organic shapes of the late-19th century Art Nouveau aesthetic.

The Cartier Tank watch has remained a classic for good reason.

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