Selling Out Tank Normale - Beat The Rush [5z6HOV72]

After 1917, Cartier saw a surge in interest in its unique watches, and more and more Cartier Tank models were born, building on the underlying design philosophy that made the Tank an initial success in the 1910s. The Tank Cintrée was introduced in 1921, the Louis and Chinoise in 1922, the Basculante in 1933, the Asymetrique in 1936, and so on. 

While each of these pieces added its own story to the Tank chronology, the model that started it all was the Normale. 

Although the watch itself was rectangular, the dial was square, with case sides that double as the bezel and are referred to as ‘brancards’. These early Tank models featured flat-topped brancards and slabbed sides, maintaining the Renault-influenced “tank” presence. Many of the other characteristic design elements of the Tank were introduced on the Normale, including the 'Roman' numeral dial, blued steel hands, blue cabochon crown, and ‘railroad’ minute track. The strap integrates perfectly into the elongated brancards, meshing with the case seamlessly. 

If you want the piece that started it all, this Normale is the one!