The Return of the Tank à Guichets, within the Cartier Privé Collection

Let’s push on several open doors… One, Cartier, the French jeweller-watchmaker, is the master of shaped watches. Second, Cartier’s most emblematic watch is, undoubtedly, the Tank. Third, there are actually dozens of Tank watches, and the depth of the collection goes far beyond the Tank LC and the Tank Normale. With this in mind, and knowing what Cartier has done recently with its Privé collection, you might have noticed that one of the most unconventional and yet iconic models is still missing. We’re, of course, talking about the Tank à Guichets, a watch that somehow feels part of the brand’s landscape while remaining pretty rare – it has only been sporadically produced. Welcome to Watches and Wonders 2025… The year the Tank à Guichets is back (once again). 

A short historical recap about the Tank a Guichets

The Cartier Tank is said to have been created in 1917, with a watch that would later be named the Tank Normale (to differentiate it from everything else that came after), finding its initial inspiration in Renault tanks from World War One. Without debating the relevance of this statement, it is certain that Louis Cartier was fascinated by geometry and design in general, which resulted in a rather radical watch, rectangular and fitted with two lateral brancards giving it the visual aspect of… a tank. The military connection doesn’t end here, as it is believed that the first (or one of the first) Cartier Tank prototype was gifted to General John Pershing.

But what we’re talking about here is just the first page of an almost endless book, counting dozens of chapters. As of 1921, the Cartier Tank started to evolve, soon to become a wide collection of shaped watches, all different and yet connected by the combination of a rectangular case and lateral brancards. Tank Cintrée, Tank Chinoise, Tank Louis Cartier, Tank Basculante, Tank Asymétrique, Tank Américaine or Tank Française… All of them are particularly notable regarding their case design. One of the earliest Cartier Tank models, however, distinguished itself not by its case but by its display: the overly Art-Deco-inspired Tank à Guichets – or should we loosely translate it by Tank with Windows.

The first Tank à Guichets was presented in 1928, and was and still is one the most forward-looking and unusual Tank models ever made. The style was decidedly futuristic (at least back in the days) and deeply rooted in the Art-Deco era, Louis Cartier taking his quest for simplicity even further by removing the dial entirely, replacing it with a streamlined, all-gold case – which somehow felt even more tank, utilitarian and protected than ever – being the purest expression of the Tank design. The top armour was revealing the time by two small apertures, one of the hours at 12 o’clock – with a jumping hour mechanism – and an arched, semi-circular one for the minutes at 6 o’clock. The 1928 had a flat top surface, entirely made of brushed gold, with a crown positioned at 12 o’clock.

Throughout the 1930s, Cartier created several Tank à Guichets models, all of which were unique. These watches explored various design elements, from the shape of the apertures to the integration of the brancards with the case, the placement of the crown, and the choice of materials. In 1997, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the French brand, the Tank à Guichets was revived as a platinum watch, a limited edition of 150 watches. Measuring about 26mm wide by 37mm in length, the 1990s model features flatter and more squared-off brancards and, importantly, a crown at 3 o’clock with a ruby cabochon as well as a thin polished bevel separating the middle case from the brancards.

In 2005, as part of the exquisite CPCP collection (Collection Privée Cartier Paris), the Tank à Guichet was once more revamped, this time in rose gold, in a limited run of only 100 pieces. The case and display were mostly identical to the 1995 watch, with the same 9752 MC calibre inside – made by Piaget with a mechanical jumping hour complication. The crown was again placed at 3 o’clock, with an octagonal shape and a blue cabochon inside. This Tank à Guichet ref. 2817, together with the 150th-anniversary edition, is regarded as one of the quirkiest yet most attractive modern Cartier watches.

The 2025 Tank A Guichets

Following in the footsteps of the Tonneau, Tank Normale, and Tortue, Cartier Privé presents a new interpretation of one of its most classic and emblematic watches, with yet another return of the Tank à Guichets. But if the overall design and functionality remain in line with what you’ve come to expect from the 1990s and 2000s versions, the new 2025 Tank à Guichets want to come closer to the original version of the late 1920s. There are 4 editions to be discovered, 3 that are essentially the same watch in different materials, with the classic layout of a Tank à Guichets, and a stand-alone platinum limited edition with a literal twist. More on that one later.

Let’s first start with the case, which remains on the compact – if not small, by modern standards – side of things. Measuring 24.8mm in width and 37.6mm in length, the new Tank à Guichets is a bit more elongated than the past versions, with slightly reworked proportions. First, the brancards are thinner and more curved than before – which explains the reduced width. The lugs are also slightly longer – or at least they feel longer – with a more pronounced angle towards the tip. What remains is the ultra-thin profile, as the watch measures a mere 6mm in thickness.

Also traditional is the overall “closed” look of the watch, with a full gold/platinum cap on top barely pierced by the two time apertures, and the vertically brushed finish of the case – which gives it a matte, almost ambivalent utilitarian look. The sides feature thin polished bevels that adds depth and refinement, and the rectangular hour aperture as well as the semi-circular minute arch both feature polished bevels – the latter retaining the small gold arrow to indicate the current minute. You’ll also note that the surface between the lugs is now polished. And altogether, the watch feels flatter. The sides are still brushed, and the caseback is still a close affair. Water-resistance: none.

What truly connects this 2025 edition of the Cartier Tank a Guichets Watch to the original 1928 model are two things: one, the crown has been relocated at 12 o’clock, as it was in the early days of this watch. Second, the brancards are back to being an integral part of the case without the separating bevel running on each side. Do I like this latter design encore? I’m not entirely sure and I do feel that these two engraved vertical lines not only animated the watch but also added a certain masculinity to the design, a certain strength. I’m, however, pleased to see the crown back at 12 o’clock – of course, this is my personal and initial opinion after spending way too little time with the watch.

As said, 3 classic editions – not limited in numbers, but very possibly in production and duration – will be available. First, an all-time classic in yellow gold with green accents – leather strap and numerals on the discs. Second, a watch that reminds me of the CPCP model, with a rose gold case, dark grey strap and numerals. Finally, a platinum edition with a burgundy strap and numerals. No distinction regarding the crown here, and no cabochon to be found – again, like the 1928 original.

Regarding the display and the indications, no major changes. The hours are still jumping and visible through a rectangular aperture at 12 o’clock while the minutes are still indicated by a dragging disc in an arched window on the lower end of the case. For both, the font is classic of the model with an Art-Deco style and the indications are printed on grained discs with a light golden finish.

Regarding the mechanics, the watch relies on the new manufacture calibre 9755 MC. Not many details have been given regarding this movement other than it is hand-wound and features reworked mechanics for the jumping hour system, offering better stability and a more precise jump – we’ll try to know more about it during Watches and Wonders.

A limited edition with a twist

In addition to these three standard versions, Cartier also launches a 200-piece limited edition of the Tank a Guichets Watch, with a highly unusual and unprecedented look. This watch is made of platinum with burgundy Arabic numerals and minute track, as well as a black alligator strap. What makes this edition truly special is the position of the indications, as the hour aperture sits vertically at 10 o’clock while the minute aperture is at 4 o’clock in an arched window rotated 90 degrees. It’s clearly unconventional, different (not to mention slightly disturbing for someone like me with a symmetry OCD), but cool in a way – I’m sure this will be a hit now and in the future…

Prices are EUR 52,000 in rose or yellow gold, EUR 60,000 in platinum (non-limited version) and EUR 66,000 in platinum (limited version). For more details, please visit cartier.com.