Manufacturer: Cartier Year: Circa 2013 Reference No: 3553 Movement No: 1713 Case No: 66 Model Name: Tank MC Skeleton Material: Palladium Calibre: Manual, cal. 9611 MC, 20 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Black Cartier crocodile strap Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold Cartier deployant clasp Dimensions: 34.5mm wide, 43.5mm long Signed:Case, dial, and movement signed Accessories: With Cartier Certificate stamped by Hong Kong Cartier boutique and dated October 28, 2013, polishing cloth, instruction manual, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
The present Tank model marks the first appearance of a skeletonized dial/movement in a non-Santos case. Launched in 2013, it is powered by calibre 9611MC, the first skeletonized movement made in-house by the Maison: in fact, MC stand for Manufacture Cartier.
Offered in excellent condition, the present piece is furthermore delivered with its original box and Guarantee.
With the Constitution of 1848 came a new standard for luxury in France. Founded one year prior by Louis-Francois Cartier, the house of Cartier was one of the first to use platinum in jewelry making. This incredibly expensive material became the stepping-stone for Cartier to experiment in form, mechanisms and attitude. It helped men move from pocket watches to wristwatches, effectively making the watch much more functional and prominent in a man's overall wardrobe.
Cartier did not only touch on functionality. Inspired by a commissioned painting by George Barbier featuring a black panther at the feet of an elegantly bejeweled woman, Cartier began incorporating wild animals in his designs—most notably, Cartier Panthère rings, bangle bracelets and watches. Yet it wasn't until the late 1960s that the house of Cartier debuted their iconic yellow and rose gold LOVE collection, which includes the famous bracelet that only a special screwdriver can open.