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Comments:

Is the 1904MC reliable?

By: LCParis : October 7th, 2013-10:15

The 1904MC watch calibre in the Tank MC I am planning to buy seems to be a good movement.

Does anyone have more information on this one?

Thanks in advance!

Yes it is.

By: foversta : October 7th, 2013-10:45

Of course, I will not tell you that you will not face a trouble: 0% of failure is impossible.

But I know very well this caliber and I can tell you that Cartier built it to get the best reliability.

Which watch are you thinking about? Calibre? Tank MC?

1904 MC

By: LCParis : October 8th, 2013-03:48

I'm planning to get the Tank MC...

I had previously the Tank Française GM which had a very bad ETA movement (several Service Complet)...

I don't want to have the same issues with this gorgeous new Tank. Do you have any technical infos about this caliber?

Thank you

1904MC is a Cartier own movement

By: MTF : October 9th, 2013-01:38

LCParis,

Now that you explained your hesitancy because of a previous 3rd party movement, you can rest assured that the 1904MC is a Cartier own movement....their first automatic 'tractor' engine.

CARTIER say: "Accuracy, durability and reliability were the three key factors in the creation of the first self-winding mechanical movement produced in its entirety by Cartier. Successfully combining technology and aesthetics, the calibre 1904 MC – so called in tribute to a key date in the history of Cartier – satisfies the strict quality criteria for one of the the Maison’s creations."

One of the problems for an automatic winding watch is the range of customers that may use it. Some customers are active and you want to avoid over-winding the spring.

Others are sedentary and may not move their arms around sufficiently to generate enough power to last even 24 hours, let alone a weekend of being left on the dresser table.

1904MC has been designed to ensure perfect chronometric stability whether the watch is fully wound or not, whether it has been worn for an hour or an entire day. To achieve this, the movement is equipped with a double barrel which guarantees excellent control of the double balance spring – the watch’s long-lasting motor – thus enabling the perfect control and stabilisation of chronometric precision.

In order to allow every watch owner to adjust his watch to the nearest second, Cartier has equipped the calibre 1904 MC with a stop-seconds system. By pulling the crown out as far as it will go, the small seconds hand stops instantly and starts again when the crown is pushed back against the case.

CALIBRE 1904-PS MC
Movement: self-winding Cartier Manufacture mechanical movement
Hours, minutes, small seconds, calendar
Diameter: 11’’’1/2 (25.6 mm)
Thickness: 4 mm
Number of jewels: 27
Number of parts: 186
Double barrel
Oscillating weight: with automatic winding click
Balance: 28,800 vibrations / hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 48 hours
Finishes: “Côtes de Genève” on the bridges and the oscillating weight

I think your choice of the Cartier Tank MC will be fine.....

Show us your watch when you get it and be the first Tank MC owner to show a wrist shot!

Regards,

MTF

1904MC vs 8000MC

By: LCParis : October 9th, 2013-06:06

It looks very similar to the 8000MC from JLC for Cartier.

Seems promising.

I will let you know about my purchase...

8000 MC

Maybe

By: MTF : October 7th, 2013-11:08

It depends on your definition of 'reliable'. Structural or Functional?

Any mechanism can keep perfect time accuracy and precision until the moment of total failure.

Any mechanism can lose time accuracy or precision over time but never fail completely.

All new designs have proving tests during R&D and continual tests during production and returns for normal servicing. Experience data continues to be collected and analysed by service centres for the lifetime of active production.

Since the 1904MC has been in active service for less than 3 years, only Cartier has the service records and return rates data , to make a conclusion.

Objectively, we receive very few adverse reports....actually none yet....about the reliability of this movement.

Regards,

MTF

It is certainly a geat movment.

By: Hagen : October 8th, 2013-20:13

I can vouch for that. I had a Calibre de Cartier a couple of years ago. It kept great time. I can't remember the accuracy results exactly, but just as good if not better than any COSC movement I had over the years in my Breitlings, Omegas and Rolexes. I sold my Calibre for reasons other than the movement, but I would not hesitate to buy another Cartier with that movement.

Cheers,

Carl