Last year, Cartier breathed new life into the Must Tank collection with a trio of new watches with solid blue, red and green dials. This year the block colour remains, but Cartier has turned to the dark side with a pair of black Tank watches, one in yellow gold and another in stainless steel.
Cartier Tank in black: What Are They?
While the Cartier Tank has become an icon in watch design with a dial boasting boldly geometric Roman numerals, fans of the brand will agree there’s something about a cleanly presented dial that remains very Cartier. It’s a watch that perhaps above all others, reminds us that when it comes to elegant forms, less is almost always more, an idea that Cartier shouts from the rooftops in 2022.
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Case
The black dial Cartier Tank watches are both available in the “Large size”, which translates to case dimensions of 33.7mm in length, 25.5mm wide, and a wafer-like thickness of 6.6mm. The solid yellow gold example sits within the Tank Louis Cartier collection, while the stainless steel version forms a part of the Tank Must catalogue (there is also a “Small size” version in steel).
Both of the case proportions are classic to the Tank, with rounded edges that were newly introduced to Cartier’s most affordable Tank Must collection last year, superseding the jarringly squared off Tank Solo from years gone by. With solid case backs and the instantly recognisable Cartier crown set with a cabochon-shaped spinel, these cases are everything you might want in a Cartier Tank.
Dial
Both the yellow gold and steel references feature “deep-black” dials, with the colour created from an application of lacquer. This gives the dials an almost liquid reflective surface, which is extremely easy to read on the wrist but does make them almost impossible to photograph.
The only text you’ll find on the dial is the serif-heavy Cartier logo and SWISS MADE at the bottom of the dial, allowing the rest of its surface to form an unrippled pool. Both watches feature sword hands, in yellow gold and steel to match their case material.
Movement
As Cartier looks to elevate the yellow gold example, it is fitted with a mechanical movement in the Manual Winding 1917 MC, which offers 38-hours of power reserve. The reference in stainless steel features the same quartz movement as the Tank Must collection from last year, which keeps the wristwatch as affordable as possible.
Strap
Both watches arrive on black alligator leather straps, secured with pin buckles made from either steel or yellow gold.
Verdict & Price
Cartier isn’t exactly throwing the rulebook out the window with these two new Tank watches with black dials, but when you have a strength of design like the French-founded watchmaker, you don’t need to. The contrast between the yellow gold case and the black dial is a combination that always looks good, bringing a touch of warmth to your wrist. The steel version is a little cooler, more contemporary and obviously more suited to a watch you could wear every day.
The Tank Louis Cartier in yellow gold has an RRP of $19,800, while the Tank Must has an RRP of $4,150.
