Inspired by the design of a military tank seen from above, the Tank watch was first designed in 1917 by Louis François Cartier, a distinct and bold move away from the popular round watch faces of the time. Instead, this delicate and linear shape references the feat of engineering behind the Renault tanks, mimicking the treads and cockpit of the vehicle’s cabin.
Since its original design, you can now shop the Tank Must and Française—chunkier, metal-based styles; the Amércaine, which is a dressier, slimline style with a leather strap; and the newest and most pared-back style, the Tank Louis Cartier, which now comes in rich burgundy and emerald green. Those with a real eye for engineering may also be drawn to the Cintrée and Asymétrique watches, as the exposed mechanisms (and angular shape, in the case of the Asymétrique) make these both high on the wish lists of watch aficionados.
