At Watches and Wonders 2023, Cartier presents the new Tank Americane. I had tried on an old Tank American at a social gathering a few months ago, so I was really excited. It was the gold version with the date and guilloché dial that unexpectedly attracted me. I thought the Tank Americane would be too elegant and delicate for my wrist, but I love it because it’s so different from many other watches on the market. Let’s take a look at the updated larger version in both steel and yellow gold and see if I’m still impressed.
Together with the 1995 Tank Française, the 1989 Tank Americane is one of the youngest designs in the Cartier collection. Of course, this model is heavily influenced by an earlier design from 1921, the Tank Cintre. Compared to that model, the caseback is flattened, but with an elongated blank card with a rectangular dial placed between. The Railroad Minute Track has a slight curve at the top and bottom, and the octagonal crown with faceted spinel remains. However, what has changed is the finish of the dial.
Previous Tank American with sunburst dial and seconds hand
New Tank Americanu with vertical brushed dial and seconds hand
Brush vertically instead of radially
The current model, the Tank American, featured a satin-finish sunburst pattern on the dial. The new version also includes a satin-finished dial, but this one has a vertical finish. It looks nice, but the dial is a little more subdued than before. What I like is that the new version doesn’t have a second hand. This makes it a little hard to tell if the watch is running or not, but it makes the dial look very nice.
The stainless steel and yellow gold cases are both polished and brushed, highlighting the Tank America’s elegant lines. The top of the blankard is mirror polished and the two connections between the blankards have a vertical brushed finish. The sides of the case are brushed horizontally to emphasize its slimness. Additionally, the straps are now mounted slightly further away towards the ends of the lugs for improved wearability. This allows the tips of the lugs to stick out less when the strap bends down around your wrist. It’s a subtle change, but the difference is noticeable.
Is it small or large? I would like it cooked medium!
When Cartier unveiled this new Tank Americane, the French house only mentioned mini, small and large versions. So far, Cartier has not confirmed whether a mid-size model is in development. However, the difference between a small size and a large size is significant, so it makes sense to have one. The mini version is 28mm long, 15.2mm wide and 6.5mm thick. The smaller one is 35.4mm long, 19.4mm wide, and 6.8mm thick. These watches have quartz movements and are significantly thinner than mechanical watches. Both come with a pin buckle and the larger size comes with a folding clasp.
The large version I tried in this trial review measures 44.4 mm in length, 24.4 mm in width, and 8.6 mm in thickness. They are powered by the automatic Cartier Caliber 1899 MC, which was developed to fit the brand’s slim watch series. It operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of 36 hours. The movement sits behind a modern case back. It’s less bulky and integrates better with the rest of the case design.
Please select a size
Let’s say you’ve never worn a rectangular watch before. If so, it may take some getting used to and you may have to try on a few different sizes to find the right size. As I mentioned, there is no medium version yet, so I chose the large version as it seemed to be closest to the size I would choose. Unfortunately, it’s too big for my 17cm wrist. 44.4mm from lug to lug may not sound like that long, but it feels way too long for this type of watch. Also, the dial seems too large on my wrist. It takes up too much real estate.
As we mentioned in our hands-on review of the Santos model last year, Cartier watches should always be smaller than average. The same applies to the Tank Americane, which has an almost flat back. Therefore, to ensure a snug fit on your wrist, we recommend choosing a size smaller than the size you normally wear. However, I think this small model with a total length of 35.4 mm may be too expensive for many people.
As mentioned earlier, the Large Tank Americaine comes with a folding clasp. I love that I don’t have to adjust it every time I wear it. That’s exactly why I love the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso butterfly clasp. However, with Cartier’s clasp, you have to fold the end of the strap back into the buckle to adjust the size. This feels like the wrong thing to do with the beautifully crafted alligator strap that the watch comes with.
last word
I love that Cartier offers the Tank Americane in steel. Because that means this watch is still somewhat affordable. The price of the large tank American is 6,800 euros. In addition to the yellow gold version I tried, there is also a rose gold version. Both are priced at 18,300 euros. The platinum version costs 25,600 euros.
I’m glad I got to spend more time with Tank Americain. Although it’s not the most famous Cartier design, you can definitely get used to wearing it. The vertical brushing on the dial emphasizes the elongated shape of the case, and I like the lack of a seconds hand. If my budget allows, I would choose the yellow gold version. But unless that’s the case, the more affordable stainless steel version is a great alternative. Still, I find it puzzling that Cartier hasn’t announced a new medium version of the Tank Americane. I’d like to believe it’s still in the pipeline somewhere, but we’ll just have to wait.
What do you think about this new large tank American?Do you think Cartier should also make a medium size one? Let us know in the comments section below.
