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Created in 1917 and launched two years later, the Cartier Tank has established itself as one of the most influential watch designs of the 20th century...

Cartier Tank LC

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Cartier

Folding Clasp

Created in 1917 and launched two years later, the Cartier Tank has established itself as one of the most influential watch designs of the 20th century. Inspired by the silhouette of the Renault FT-17 tank, it has stood the test of time, becoming the timepiece of choice for cultural icons such as Princess Diana, Muhammad Ali, and Andy Warhol.

The model we have here is a direct descendant of the Tank known as the ‘Louis Cartier’ and adopts the purest aesthetic of the Tank Louis: a white enamel dial with elongated Roman numerals, a minute track, blued hands, and the classic crown adorned with a blue cabochon. At 6 o'clock, each dial bears the inscription “Swiss” or “Paris.” Those bearing the inscription ‘Swiss’ were sold in the Cartier branch in New York, while those bearing the inscription “Paris” were sold in London and Paris. The rectangular case, made of yellow gold, has balanced and very refined proportions, measuring 23 × 30 mm, in the grand tradition of Cartier's ultra-thin city watches.

The watch is powered by an ultra-thin hand-wound mechanical movement, the P838 caliber, launched in 1962 by Jaeger-LeCoultre and used in Cartier Tank ultra-thin dress watches before being replaced by the ultra-thin 96 caliber movements (based on Piguet 21) in the 1980s and 1990s for ultra-thin versions such as reference [96065](https://geneva.41watch.com/catalogue/cartier/tank/2124-tank-louis-96065-pre-cpcp).

Comes with its original Cartier folding clasp and a Cartier box.

White

Hours

Minutes

Rare Cartier Tank Louis Paris 1970 P838 in yellow gold available at our showroom in Geneva.

Tank

Manual

Leather

Yellow Gold

Patek Philippe

Pin buckle

Introduced in 1968, the design of Patek Philippe's Ellipse is no accident, as it is based on the golden ratio, considered the “divine proportion” found in nature and in the greatest architectural and artistic works. Following on from the first men's references 3546 and 3548, reference 3849 was introduced in the late 1970s and remained in production until 1998.

The elliptical case, made of 18-karat white gold, features a bezel set with 60 diamonds and has refined dimensions that are perfectly suited to all wrists.   

The dial, manufactured by specialist Singer for Patek Philippe, stands out with its deep blue sunburst finish, an iconic signature of the Ellipse collection. The four diamond hour markers and gold hands, deliberately minimalist, create an elegant and legible contrast, emphasizing the purity of the design.

The “Sigma σ” symbol on the dial at 6 o'clock was introduced in the 1970s by the Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l'Or (APRIOR) to highlight prestigious manufacturers who use precious materials in their watches and to indicate that the hands and hour markers are made of gold, as is the dial on this model.

This version of the Ellipse, whose dimensions are very similar to the original model, is equipped with a hand-wound mechanical movement, the caliber 215, which appeared in 1974 and is still in use today. The caliber 215 is the first to be equipped with the Gyromax, operating at 28,800 beats per hour. This movement is distinguished by its remarkable stability over long periods, making it ideal for everyday use.

The watch comes with an extract from the Patek Philippe archives (to follow).

Blue

Discover this superb Patek Philippe Ellipse 3849 available at our showroom in Geneva.

Ellipse

Extract of the archives

White Gold

Vacheron Constantin

Launched in 1977 to celebrate Vacheron Constantin's 222nd anniversary, the Reference 222 occupies a fundamental place in the history of the Manufacture. Designed by Jörg Hysek, it was part of the wave of luxury sports watches with integrated bracelets that appeared in the 1970s, alongside the Royal Oak and the Nautilus, designed by Gérald Genta.

Originally produced in steel, yellow gold, and two-tone, the 222 was available in two sizes: 37 mm (Jumbo) and 34 mm. While the gold versions were more common at the time, the steel 222 is now considered the most desirable and rare, becoming a true icon for collectors.

The modern reissue, the Historiques 222 ref. 4200H/222A-B934, pays faithful homage to the original model, while benefiting from the manufacturer's contemporary standards. It retains the iconic features of the 1977 model: a tonneau case with clean lines, a fluted bezel, an integrated bracelet and, above all, the Maltese cross applied to the right side of the case, the model's instantly recognizable signature.

The steel case has a diameter of 37 mm, echoing the proportions of the historic Jumbo version. Its monobloc construction and alternating satin and polished finishes on the chamfers reinforce its sporty-chic character, while its slim profile ensures excellent comfort on the wrist. The sleek, perfectly legible matte blue dial is punctuated with applied hour markers and baton hands, faithful to the aesthetics of the 1970s. 

The watch is powered by the 2455/2 automatic manufacture caliber, developed and decorated to the highest standards of Vacheron Constantin and stamped with the Hallmark of Geneva, synonymous with provenance, craftsmanship, and reliability. This movement offers a comfortable 40-hour power reserve and a meticulous finish, visible through the sapphire crystal case back, adding a touch of modernity to this historic reinterpretation.

The watch comes as a full set with its box, travel case, wallet, and original warranty card.

Date

Discover this superb Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques 222 4200H/222A-B934 in steel, available at our showroom in Geneva.

Historiques

Automatic

International warranty card

Stainless steel

Steel

Audemars Piguet

Introduced in 1972, the first Royal Oak ref. 5402 was designed by one of the most prolific watchmakers, Gerald Genta. Inspired by a diving helmet and designed in a single night, this model was unprecedented at the time: a 39 mm steel case that earned it the nickname “Jumbo” and an impressive price tag of CHF 3,750, more than ten times the price of a Rolex Submariner.

Alongside the production of the iconic Royal Oak, a smaller version of this watch was launched in 1976, the Ref. 4100, the first “mid-size” Royal Oak, with a 35 mm case, offering a more versatile alternative better suited to a wider range of wrists, while retaining the aesthetic DNA of the original model.

The Ref. 4100BA stands out with its 18-karat yellow gold case and bracelet, giving the Royal Oak a decidedly luxurious interpretation for a watch historically designed as a steel sports watch. The octagonal case and integrated bracelet amplify its presence on the wrist, giving the watch a more imposing stature than its dimensions suggest.

This example, manufactured in 1983, features a rare matte gold-colored small tapestry dial, in keeping with the era, and is equipped with the automatic caliber 2123, which has a power reserve of approximately 40 hours and a stop-second mechanism for precise adjustment.

The watch comes with its Audemars Piguet archive extract and has a notable provenance, having been presented at auction at Christie's in May 2022.

Champagne

Seconds

Discover this rare Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 4100BA available at our showroom in Geneva.

Royal Oak

Yellow gold

Introduced in 1968, the design of Patek Philippe's Ellipse was not chosen at random. It is based on the golden ratio, considered to be the “divine proportion” found in nature and in the greatest works of architecture and art.

This particularly rare version of the Ellipse features a bezel with a decorative “Clou de Paris” pattern consisting of small pyramid-shaped reliefs, and its case measures 28.6 mm wide compared to 27 mm for the original model. The dials, manufactured by specialist Singer for Patek Philippe, offer a simple yet striking contrast between the blue color and the yellow gold hour markers and hands.
In addition, this model displays the date in a small window at 3 o'clock and is equipped with a quartz movement, the caliber E 23 SC, perfect for everyday use.

Our model is equipped with an MK2 dial (see our [article](https://www.41watch.com/en/journal/historical-reviews-of-iconic-watches/technical-review-of-the-patek-philippe-ellipse) on this subject), recognizable by its flat hour markers and hands, the word “Geneve” without an accent, and the “Sigma σ” symbols visible at 6 o'clock on the dial. The “Sigma σ” symbol, introduced in the 1970s by the Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l'Or (APRIOR), highlights prestigious manufacturers that use precious materials for their watches and indicates that the hour markers are made of solid gold, as is the dial for this model.

The watch comes with its Patek Philippe certificate of origin (dated 1987).

Discover this superb Patek Philippe Ellipse 3931 Certificate of Origin available at our showroom in Geneva.

Quartz

Certificate of origin

Rolex

Introduced in 1945, the Rolex Datejust marked a major milestone in watchmaking history by becoming the first automatic wristwatch to display the date in a window that changes instantly at midnight. 

Available in a variety of sizes and configurations over the years, the reference 6824 is part of the 31 mm Datejust line, an intermediate size particularly appreciated for its harmonious proportions, reflecting the classic Rolex aesthetic of the period.

The 31 mm yellow gold Oyster case offers a refined presence on the wrist, while retaining the sporty and robust DNA unique to Rolex. It is paired with a smooth bezel, emphasizing the purity of the design, and a riveted yellow gold bracelet, characteristic of older models. This type of bracelet, recognizable by its riveted sides, gives the watch a historical charm that is highly sought after by collectors.

The dial, with its exemplary legibility, features applied gold hour markers, complemented by the famous date window at 3 o'clock, topped with a Cyclops lens. The whole perfectly illustrates the versatile nature of the Datejust, which is equally at home in formal and everyday settings.

The Datejust 6824 is equipped with the 2030 automatic movement, renowned for its reliability and precision, and has a power reserve of 42 hours.

Discover this magnificent Rolex Datejust 31 6824 available at our showroom in Geneva.

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Our Complete Collection

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Cartier Tank LC

Our Complete Collection

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Cartier Tank LC

Our Complete Collection

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Cartier

Patek Philippe

Vacheron Constantin

Audemars Piguet

Patek Philippe

Rolex

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Our vintage watches

Wrist Impression - MB&F LM101

History - F.P. Journe Chronometre a Resonance

"First wrist impression" articles