1970s Cartier Paris Tank LC (Ref. 78086) 18K WG

The Cartier Tank has become one of the most iconic watch designs of all time, and other than some more eclectic references produced has remained relatively the same over its long run of production. The Cartier Tank was originally designed in 1917 and became commercially available in 1919, its design was inspired by the Renault FT-17 tank used by the French Military in the First World War.

The Cartier Tank is the perfect example of excellent design transcending generations. The Tank moved through the early 20th century only to become more relevant during the mid-century design era, and is once again seeing a massive resurgence amongst the watch-collecting community today.

The now more than 100-year-old watch design was the timepiece of choice for many of the cultural elite throughout history, the most famous of which being Princess Diana, Muhammed Ali, and of course Andy Warhol who was actually quoted saying the iconic phrase "I don't wear a Tank watch to tell the time. In fact, I never wind it. I wear a Tank because it's the watch to wear.”

While the primary alloy used for every classic Cartier wristwatch model is 18K yellow gold, its not unheard of for some models to be produced in differents metals in this era, but it is extremely uncommon. The ref. 78086 is a beloved reference for the Tank Louis model for its refined design of the Tank model, this specific example however, is cast in 18K white gold, an extremely rare variation of the reference which makes for both a more exclusive timepiece with an elevated aesthetic.