Every year, during the April release period, the new releases from Cartier's "Cartier Privé" collection attract the attention of watch enthusiasts around the world. Cartier Privé chooses a masterpiece from the past as its theme and creates a watch that is at the pinnacle of current technology. The Tank à Guichet chosen this year is a model that stands out not only for its unique design but also for its outstanding exterior.
Text by Yuto Hosoda (Chronos-Japan)
[Article published on January 18, 2025]
This year's Privé is the "Tank à Guiché" with a "small window"
One of the joys of April is guessing what will be added to Cartier's Cartier Privé collection. The Tortue, which has long been expected to be added, was announced in 2024, making predictions even more difficult.
As expected, the watch that was unveiled in Geneva was the Tank à Guichet with its jumping hour and minute disc. This was something I never expected. The Tank à Guichet, which first appeared in 1928, has only been revived twice before, in 1997, the 150th anniversary of Cartier's founding, and at the Cartier Calendar and Clockwork Show in 2005. To be honest, I had only ever remembered it as a model like that.
Manual winding (Cal. 9755 MC). 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 42 hours. Pt case (37.6 x 24.8 mm, 6 mm thick). Not waterproof. Limited to 200 pieces worldwide. Price: 9,702,000 yen (tax included).
Manual winding (Cal. 9755 MC). 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 42 hours. 18K yellow gold case (37.6 x 24.8 mm, 6 mm thick). Not waterproof. Price: 759 million yen (tax included).
Manual winding (Cal. 9755 MC). 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 42 hours. 18KPG case (37.6 x 24.8 mm, 6 mm thick). Not waterproof. Price: 759 million yen (tax included).
Manual winding (Cal. 9755 MC). 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 42 hours. Pt case (37.6 x 24.8 mm, 6 mm thick). Not waterproof. Price: 8,844,000 yen (tax included).
A sample that gives you the best taste of the "Privé exterior"
But when you actually hold this watch in your hands, you can't help but be impressed. The movement isn't outstanding (you can't see it through the case back), it doesn't have any mesmerizingly three-dimensional hands (there aren't any hands), and the dial doesn't impress you when you hold it up to the light (it's a dial-ry). But what is this sense of satisfaction that wells up inside you just by holding the Tank à Guiché? It's none other than the exceptional quality of the case.
The greatest appeal of Cartier Privé, not just this watch, is the quality of its exterior. The distortion-free surfaces, properly sharp edges, and delicate satin finish... When you hold a Privé watch in your hand and look at it closely, you can really feel the spirit of the jeweler. And the Tank à Guichet is the sample that best captures the impressiveness of its exterior.
As you can see, this watch does not have a transparent back to show the movement, nor does it even have a dial. All that is there is a solid block of metal, with two small windows that merely tell the time. This allows you to enjoy the outstanding metal finish from the entire watch.
Even when you look at the disc to see the time, your eyes are drawn to the treatment of the small window. Your attention is drawn to the deep C-chamfer and the polishing that has been applied there, and your eyes don't even try to read the time. But more than that, isn't the return angle of the minute disc quite extreme?
With such an appealing exterior, it doesn't really matter whether you choose the Type 3 with its faithful original design or the limited edition 200-piece model with an offset time display. "Don't look at the time, look at the watch!" That's the kind of feeling you get.
In fact, availability has improved slightly.
By the way, whenever I introduce this type of watch, I always write, "However, it's a shame that it's so difficult to obtain." However, it seems that they won't decide on a specific number to sell for the 3rd model that follows the original design. It seems that they will be selling a small amount for a set period of 1 to 3 years, which is called a limited sales method. It seems that availability has improved slightly compared to before.
That being said, it will likely remain difficult to obtain. Despite its pretentious design, the Tank à Guiché is so captivating in quality that it overshadows the rest. If anyone is lucky enough to have purchased one, I would love to see it.
