Year: Circa 2002
Reference No: 2551
Movement No: No. 138
Case No: No. 138 MG
Model Name: Tank à Vis Dual Time CPCP
Material: 18K yellow gold
Calibre: Manual, cal. 9901, 18 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Cartier deployant clasp

The present Tank à Vis draws inspiration from one of the rarest vintage Cartier Tank references, the Tank Étanche. According to horological lore, in the 1930s, the Pasha of Marrakech ordered a water-resistant watch so that he could swim in his pool while being able to tell the time. Cartier responded by creating a three-part Tank, with an interior cover for the movement and screw-down crown. The angles of the rectangular case made this construction particularly complex, and apparently they had no energy left over for a creative name, thus the French word “étanche” translates directly to “waterproof” in English. In the late 1990s, the Cartier Privée Collection Paris introduced a refreshed version of the Tank Étanche – the Tank à Vis. It was offered with a choice of three separate complications: time-only, wandering hours, and dual time. The present example is of the latter variation, with two dials stacked atop each other allowing for easy reading of separate time zones – a simple yet effective take on the dual-time. Offered in excellent condition, the present watch is a wearable delight for the modern jetsetter.