PLAYING WITH ANGLES
Cartier revives an old classic with the new Tank Asymétrique to display the maison’s heritage in shaped timepieces
LET’S TAKE A STEP BACK through time. In 1936, Louis Cartier bucked the trend when he introduced the original Tank Asymétrique. The watch featured a rectangular case skewed to resemble a diamond, along with a dial that was rotated 30 degrees to the right. The timepiece didn’t just possess design details that paralleled the art deco movement (which happened to be en vogue at the time) ‒ it also showed how a small tweak could result in an entirely new aesthetic.
Cartier pays homage to this moment in its history by introducing the new Tank Asymétrique to its Privé collection for
2020. Since 2015, the Privé collection has comprised limited editions of Cartier’s most cherished designs such as the Crash and the Tank Cintrée. For the Tank Asymétrique, Cartier has announced two new models.
Tank Asymétrique (Calibre 1917 MC)
This new iteration of the Tank Asymétrique features a completely redesigned set of Arabic numerals and indices. The hour markers now sit closer towards the centre of the dial, resulting in improved focus for easier time-reading. The sword-shaped hands are also a contemporary update to the original’s more ornate design. Fitted with the manual-winding Calibre 1917 MC, the Tank Asymétrique is available in three different configurations of case, dial and strap: pink gold with a grey dial and strap, yellow gold with a champagne dial and brown strap, and platinum with a silver dial and grey strap.
Tank Asymétrique (Calibre 9623 MC)
Cartier’s manual-winding Calibre 9623 MC allows the Tank Asymétrique to possess an aesthetic unique in its history. Sitting atop the specially-designed movement is a skeletonised dial punctuated by large Arabic numerals at the 12 and six o’clock position, which serve both as a visual anchor and a means of orientation.
The presence of a skeletonised dial in an asymmetrical watch comes as testament to the Privé collection’s mission of applying technology in service of design. In this case, the act of skeletonisation serves as more than just a blatant statement of skill. Instead, it functions as a cornerstone of the Tank Asymétrique’s visual appeal. This skeletonised timepiece comes in either a platinum or gold case. The former is also available in a gem-set version that’s set with 250 brilliant-cut diamonds. The platinumcased Tank Asymétrique is matched with both blue and black alligator leather straps, while the gold-cased version offers up grey and brown variants instead.
Modern Rarities
Both versions of the new Tank Asymétrique feature luxurious details such as precious metals, gem-set crowns and made-tomeasure leather straps. In keeping with the exclusive nature of Cartier’s Privé collection, each piece in the series is also strictly limited to 100 units and individually numbered. Combining both striking wrist presence and desirability, the Cartier Tank Asymétrique stands as a compelling choice for the discerning connoisseur. AM