| Brand: | Cartier |
| Model: | Cartier Tank Louis Extra-Plat Or Jaune |
| Gender: | Uni-sex |
| Year: | 1970s |
| Material: | yellow gold |
| Dial Color: | Creme white |
| Dimensions: | 23 x30 mm |
| Watch Movement: | manual |
| Bracelet/Strap: | calf leather strap with Cartier signed boucle déployante |
| Box/Paper: | Handmade Leather WRISTICONS Travel Pouch |
| Condition: | Excellent |
We are pleased to present a refined vintage example of the Cartier Tank Louis Cartier Extra-Plat (Extra-Flat) from the mid 1960s , powered by an original Jaeger-LeCoultre-based manual-winding movement, caliber 838. This Tank LC represents one of the purest expressions of Cartier’s timeless dress-watch philosophy: minimalist, elegant, and deeply rooted in heritage.
Imagine a watch that whispers refinement rather than shouts luxury. The Vintage Cartier Tank Louis Cartier (LC) delivers exactly that. With its slim gold rectangular case and understated dial, it slips gracefully under a shirt cuff — the kind of watch that says you don’t need boldness to be confident.
Powered by a hand-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre–based movement, this Tank LC offers a tactile connection to tradition — winding it is part of the ritual, not just a necessity. Its calibre, gold case, and restrained design reflect an era when watches were about quiet sophistication and timeless style.
For the wearer who values heritage over hype, discretion over show — the Tank LC is not a statement piece, but a statement of taste.
The Cartier Tank Louis Cartier is a classic from the Golden Age of manual watchmaking. Originally introduced as the successive evolution of the early Tanks, the Tank Louis Cartier (LC) has been part of Cartier’s legacy since the 1920s. In the 1960s, Cartier Paris offered versions of the Tank LC with slim, elegant cases and classic Jaeger-LeCoultre–based movements — at a time when watchmaking emphasized craftsmanship, understated design, and mechanical purity.
These vintage Tank LCs — especially pre-1970 examples — are increasingly rare, thanks to their limited production numbers and the fact that many were eventually replaced, serviced or modified over the decades. watchfid.com+2cosimo-watches.com+2
Owning such a Tank LC is like holding a piece of history: a link to a time when elegance was minimalist, proportions were restrained, and every watch was built to last. A subtle companion that doesn’t seek attention — but commands respect among the few who know.
Louis Cartier designed the Tank in 1917. An Icon was born. The Cartier Tank Louis Cartier, or the LC Tank as collectors and connoisseurs like to refer to it. With its smoother and rounder lines, it followed the Tank Normale in 1919, and it was the second Tank that Cartier ever launched. It became the jewel in the crown of the entire watch collection of Cartier. So the Tank turned 100 last year. The first prototype was presented as a gift to the American general Pershing, a few years before the watch was put on the market in 1919. The design is inspired by the caterpillars of tanks.
Characteristic of the Tank is that the band starters of this watch are fully integrated in the housing, with the watch band seamlessly merging into the band starters. The design of the rectangular watch and the sleek design make this watch very popular with the unconventional customers. The Tank has certainly retained its distinctive identity over the years.
Nowadays very complicated watches are built with triple tourbillions or triple chronographs. The Tank on the other hand is not a very complicated watch. Its powers lies in its simplicity . While the Tank Louis Cartier with its mechanical or quartz time only caliber, is just a very straight forward, good looking watch. Exclusively build in precious metals and always set with a sapphire in the crown, the Tank Louis Cartier is a statement, like no other watch in the collection is. It is not only recognized by the Kings and Queens but also artists like Andy Warhol, Clarke Gable and Duke Ellington were often spotted with a Tank watch. It is also often the watch of choice by those people who prefer to have only one watch in their lives, they wear the Tank Louis Cartier day in and day out and see their Tank as part of their personality. The Tank Louis Cartier is often seen amongst industry leaders, fashion designers and in general, among people that like to dress stylish and have a certain taste for timeless objects.
In 1973 Cartier relaunched the Tank with ultra flat, Tank LC and Tank Normale versions now available as regular production pieces. And riding on the popularity of the Must de Cartier range, the Tank LC was soon seen on the wrists of everyone from Jackie Kennedy, Mohammed Ali, to Andy Warhol.
This particular Cartier Tank has just undergone a full service at our watchmaker. The Tank comes with a polished tank case, and also 2 screws that hold a genuine WI calf leather strap, , with signed solid 18k gold Cartier buckle. The Tank Louis has a18K yellow gold round, refined beaded crown set with a faceted cabochon. This classic dress watch is in overall excellent original condition.
As with all of our pre-owned watches this watch comes with a full 12 month WRIST ICONS warranty that will be invoked from the day of purchase. Please check our website to have a look at the high resolution pictures on a macro level. You will see every detail at its best.
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