{"product_id":"cartier-tank-americaine-mechanique-as03841","title":"Cartier Tank Americaine Mechanique","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy We Love It\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Cartier Tank Americaine is quite possibly the least understood model in Cartier's lineup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIntroduced in 1989 under Richemeont group ownership, the Tank Americaine is in many ways a modern update to the classic Cintree model. With an elongated case featuring a gently curved case back, the Americaine line was designed from the start to be a larger watch to suit American tastes. Initially launched exclusively with quartz movements, the line has expanded in the past decades to include a variety of mechanical variants, as well as sizes, casing materials, and complications that put the Americaine all over the map in terms of value - hence the broad confusion amongst collectors, who don't know where to 'put' the model in the lineup from low to high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis particular example is a stunning full size model cased in 18k yellow gold, and features the timeless satin silver guilloche dial with printed roman indices that the brand was built on. Fitted with a set of blued steel hands, octagonal sapphire cabochon winding crown, and an \u003cem\u003eabsolutely magnificent\u003c\/em\u003e matching yellow gold bracelet with deployant clasp, this is quite simply one of the most gorgeous (and heavy!) Tanks we've ever had. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAnd we saved the best part for last: It has a \u003cem\u003emanual winding\u003c\/em\u003e movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e-- Mic drop, walks offstage --\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDespite being a purveyor of \u003ci style=\"color: #212121; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;\"\u003ehaute joaillerie\u003c\/i\u003e, Cartier has had a long tradition of making watches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #212121;\"\u003eIt started in 1907, when founder Louis Cartier made what was arguably the \u003ci\u003every first\u003c\/i\u003e wristwatch for his friend Alberto Santos-Dumont. In the following years, the brand made a name for itself with its most famous wristwatch, the Tank, in all its multitudinous forms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #212121;\"\u003eCartier introduced the Tank in 1917, with a run of six pieces - given, or so the legend goes, to American General Joseph Pershing and his staff. The design of the Tank was inspired by the Renault FT-17 tanks Cartier seen on the battlefields of World War I. Cartier took the look of the Renault tank's treads and applied it to the lugs, which were integrated via \u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003ebrancards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e into the case itself. That first run of six pieces increased to thirty-three by 1920, and by the end of the 20th Century, that number stood well in the hundreds of thousands. In sheer volume alone, the Tank - in all its various models - is Cartier's largest line of watches. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #212121;\"\u003eThe Tank Louis was introduced in 1922, following close on the heels of the Asian-influenced Tank Chinoise. The Tank Chinoise, released amidst a mania for jewelry inspired by the Orient, has a square rather than rectangular case and lugs that resemble the portico of a Chinese pagoda.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: #212121;\"\u003eFrom its debut, it would see many variations, each in keeping with Louis Cartier’s taste for clean lines and perfect symmetry. Each variant, from the original Tank, Tank Louis or the Cintrée with its flirtatious, curvaceous lines, had its passionate devotees. Rudolph Valentino, that sensual star of the silver screen, insisted on wearing his Tank onscreen in \u003ci\u003eThe Son of the Sheik, \u003c\/i\u003eand Clark Gable, Andy Warhol, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis were among those who sported a Tank throughout the years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cartier","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32364998819927,"sku":"40950011","price":15900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/CARTIER_TANK-AMERICAINE-MECHANIQUE_1735-1_AS03841-7.jpg?v=1604604290","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/cartier-tank-americaine-mechanique-as03841","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}