The Cartier Tank was released way back in 1917 and is one of the longest-running series in the watch world.

Created by Louis Cartier himself, the often-imitated rectangular design pays homage to the Renault FT-17 tank used in the first world war and is one that has endured for over a century.

Early Tank models were equipped with a hand-wound movement designed by LeCoultre and were produced in small numbers (less than 6,000 between 1917 and 1969), making pre-1970’s references very rare finds on the vintage market.

The modern Tank has evolved and split off into several sub-series including the Tank Francaise and Tank Americaine, but at the core of the collection remains the Tank Solo. Only available with a traditional white roman numeral dial and in a choice of steel, yellow or rose gold cases, the Tank Solo stays unapologetically true to Louis Cartier’s original design and is testament to just how right he got it over a century ago.