Cartier Tank Basculante 2386 - White Roman Dial - Stainless Steel

In 1904, Cartier, the already illustrious Parisian jewellery masterhouse, created the first men's wristwatch: the Santos-Dumont, designed for the pioneering aviator and close friend of Louis Cartier, Alberto Santos-Dumont. Fifteen years later, Cartier unveiled what would become its most iconic and globally revered wristwatch creation: the Tank. Inspired by the silhouette of the Renault FT-17, this debut marked the beginning of an extensive and ever-evolving collection of reinterpretations. The designation Normale, applied retrospectively, served specifically to distinguish this original creation from the many subsequent variations founded upon it. In 1999, Cartier reintroduced one of these distinctive reinterpretations, the Tank Basculante, an exceptionally intriguing and rarely seen model. The original Tank Basculante was first launched around 1932, just a year after the debut of the now-iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. While both watches were conceived to address the same concern — protection from shocks — they employed markedly different mechanisms. The Basculante, French for "tilting" or "pivoting," rotates along a vertical axis, a unique feature that allows the watch to also serve as a convenient table clock when removed from the wrist and positioned halfway. The 1999 reissue was notable not only for reviving this ingenious design but also for its bold use of materials: it was the first Tank model to be crafted predominantly, and entirely, from stainless steel — a material now commonplace within the Tank collection, but at the time a revolutionary departure from tradition. The present example, reference 2386, measures 21 x 32 mm, slightly longer than a classic men's Cartier Tank Louis Cartier, yet narrower, resulting in a beautifully proportioned timepiece suitable for both men and women. Powered by a precise quartz movement, the watch, despite its rotating mechanism, remains remarkably thin, allowing it to sit comfortably and flush on the wrist. Preserved in good condition, this elegant and fine piece is now offered to the highest bidder.