Tank Normale
1919–?17 variants
Rectangular case with a square dial; flat-topped, slab-sided brancards double as bezel and lugs. Introduced the Tank vocabulary of Roman numerals, blued hands, cabochon crown and railway minute track. A first run of six pieces went on sale two years after the 1917 design; the prototype is said to have gone to General Pershing in 1918.
No reference number: early Cartier Tanks were made individually rather than to a numbered reference, and collectors identify them by model name, maison and case numbers. Made in very limited numbers throughout; the men’s case of about 23 × 30 mm stayed essentially unchanged.
Variants over time
Faded ends mark approximate or unknown dates. Years are as stated by the cited sources.
Reference specifications
- Brand
- Cartier
- Model
- Tank Normale
- Reference
- No reference number
- Category
- Dress
- Production
- 1919–?
- Movement
- Manual winding
- Calibers
- K840
Specs shared by all variants. Variant pages show where a variant differs.
Read more
- The Cartier Privé Tank Normale Collection Honours The Very First TankRead more at Monochrome Watches (opens in a new tab)
- The Definitive Guide to the Cartier TankRead more at Analog:Shift (opens in a new tab)
- Collecting the Cartier Tank: A Guide to the Most Important ModelsRead more at Sotheby's (opens in a new tab)