hoistforrent
17
Its a Cartier Tank Stepped NY Ref: 15716
Nice find!
Luckily you bought the rarer version of the 1970s Stepped Cartier Tank. Cartier
This model is a PRE-Must De Cartier with a gilded brass alloy back-plate
and solid silver vermeil gilded front case and is referred to as the
Tank Stepped (NY) with the Ref: 15716 made circa 1975 in the Cartier
boutique New York with the ''FOUR SCREW back-case & large elongated
cabochon sapphire crown which was partly integrated into the case design
and it had punched serial numbers on the back case starting with the
number 12 followed by its 6 digits serial number''.
The less desirable versions of this model had the Ref: 1543 and were
made in the UK and France. The London boutique version had a SMALL crown
which was NOT integrated into the case and had a push back-case with NO
screws and it had sloppy back engravings (in English language) with NO
serial numbers. The Paris boutique version also had the SMALL crown and a
push back-case with NO screws and also had sloppy back engraving (in
the French language) with NO serial numbers. Paris & London boutique
were based closer together and they exchanged the same ideas and stock
parts. NY boutique was a more independent store and they came up with
their own parts and designs which reflects back in these three different
variations. All three references are rare!
The Tank Stepped was considered oversized than any other Tank model
during the 1970s and not many liked the artistic design of the case. It
was only offered for a couple of years (1973-1976) but not many were
sold which make them today very sought after! But the New York Ref:
15716 with the FOUR SCREW case and elongated crown is the best and
rarest of the three versions. The dials were hand painted in lacquer and
because of this all have aged with a patina to different colors which
we consider today to be tropical. They came in white, blue, black and
brown with gilded hand painted numerals and matching gilded sword hands.
But the true classic iconic white Cartier dial with black numerals and
black sword hands is the most desirable dial variation.
These Stepped Tank watches are still sleepers duo the lack of
information out there. The Ref: 15716 New York version can fetch double
the price than the Paris and London versions because of its better
quality built, design and low volume production. In the last 20 years or
so I've seen only less than 25 of these watches offered or sold and I
have seen thousands and thousands of Rolex submariners.
The last one ive seen sold was by Theo & Harris watches and it was
sold for $3955. And it was not even the better NY version but it was the
London or Paris variation and it had a wrong back plate which was
missing the brand and info engravings.
Ever seen this 1970s Cartier Tank before?
It's not a Tank
many thanks
