Cartier Tank Basculante Personal Review

Marv · 2010-04-07T15:44:40Z

Explore Marv's Cartier Tank Basculante, a sculptural reversing watch from 1932. Discover its unique design, historical context, and collector appreciation.

Marv

WPS member · Cartier forum

14 replies16005 views0 photos

Marv's personal reflection on his Cartier Tank Basculante offers a unique perspective on a lesser-known yet historically significant reversing watch. His detailed photographs and historical context illuminate the Basculante's design origins and its place within Cartier's iconic Tank lineage. This article provides valuable insights into the watch's sculptural qualities and distinctive aesthetics, making it relevant for both long-time collectors and new enthusiasts exploring Cartier's heritage.

I would like to share with you a personnal view on my Tank Basculante.

As you may know, the Tank Watch was created in 1917 by Cartier. It was inspired by the armored military vehicles, which were used in the 1st World War: a rectangular shape with legs that extend straight beyong the case.

The Tank Basculante is born 15 years later, in 1932. At that time, many other watchmakers were offering reversing watch. We all know the reverso created in 1931, but there were many other models with alternative reversing systems (Remember the Universal Geneve Cabriolet).

Cartier was even one of the first watchmakers to introduce a tipping watch with this very basic model in 1926.

sourced from "Cartier, The Tank Watch" by Cologni

With its case that can turn 360° around its horizontal axis, the Tank Basculante is not only a playful watch, it is a pure sculptural object.

The dial is very pure, very "Cartier" with its Guilloche and Roman Numerals.

The lack of the second hand increases the sculptural presence of the watch.

In addition to the dial, the blue cabochon is another strong signature of Cartier. It ecos nicely the blued-steel hands.

The surface finishing of the stainless stell case alternates satin brushed polish and mirror polish. This nice finishing highlights the harmonious homothecy of the 3 interlinked components.

This high quality of execution contibutes to my perception of: First a sculptural object, then and only then a watch (reason why I won't bother you with mechanical consideration about the manual-winding movement even if it deserves attention).

And when I say a sculptural object...

This tilting model is not the most famous version of the Tank but I thought it was worth presenting it here as it combines successfully a strong design, a playful feature and pure elegance.

Hope you enjoyed it!

This message has been edited by SJX on 2010-04-08 22:23:02

Key Points from the Discussion

The Basculante is a refreshing alternative to the more commonly discussed Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, showcasing Cartier's distinct approach to reversing watch designs.
The Tank Basculante's elegant and playful design stands out, inspiring other collectors to seek out vintage Tank models.
Despite its potentially small size for some wrists, the Basculante was a favorite Cartier model for many upon its release, appreciated for its unique aesthetic.
The Basculante is considered a prime example of Cartier's elegance, with its sculptural presence enhanced by the absence of a second hand.
The Basculante is noted for being one of the flattest watches in the Cartier collection, contributing to its distinctive profile.
A reader inquired about the specific year of the watch featured, indicating interest in its production timeline.

The Discussion

amanico

Apr 7, 2010

The pictures are awesome, the reading very interesting and well documented. As for the watch, I'm rediscovering it throught this post. Certainly an example of elegance. Huge congratulations on this post, my friend. Best, Nicolas

Geo

Apr 7, 2010

Your photos are very nice, a bit more that a usual watch shot, I really like them. The Basculante is a very interesting Tank and may be the flattest watch in the Cartier collection. GEO

SJX

Apr 8, 2010

the millennium version with the "MM" at 12 o'clock but missed it. - SJX

Apr 8, 2010

PM me if u need to source. It's just sitting in a stall in the city area.

VMM

Apr 8, 2010

It was love at first sight. A bit small for my wrist, but it was one of my favorite Cartier watches when it was released. Thanks for posting. Vte

Dino944

Apr 8, 2010

...its great to see an appreciatioon for reversing watches that are not from JLC. Your photos are really a well thought out and I like the use of some historic design sketches. I hope your Tank Basculante brings you many more great years of service and look forward to seeing more photos soon. Best regards, Dino

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