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Lot Essay
The Tank Obus Savonette is an undoubted Cartier masterpiece and grail watch for any collector of the rarest vintage Cartier models. For Cartier collectors, the wristwatches produced in the early 20th century are beyond desirable.
Consigned by a distinguished gentleman from his private collection, this superb vintage Cartier wristwatch has been a prize possession for the past 46 years. The incredibly rare Tank Obus Savonette was produced in extremely small numbers and is highly unusual among Cartier’s wristwatches, its rectangular design with sprung hinged cover over the dial, distinctive ‘Obus’ bullet-shaped lugs and the winding crown concealed within the confines of the case in the 6 o’clock position suggest that it was intended to be worn by sportsmen, the design providing some protection for the most vulnerable parts of the watch.
The present timepiece houses a Cartier signed movement, the case has crisp and clear serial numbers on the back and interior, the front cover is decorated with a simple enamel line rectangle, a masterclass in chic understatement. The dial features Roman numerals and the signature ‘Cartier France’. Accompanied by a Cartier numbered gold deployant clasp, this Tank Obus Savonette is a sublime example of what can only be described as 'the genius of Cartier'. The four-digit stock numbers on the back of the lugs indicate that the present timepiece was sold through Cartier London.
The instantly recognizable yet highly elusive Tank Obus Savonette very rarely appears at auction and, to the best of our knowledge, the present watch is one of only a handful of period examples of this configuration ever to be offered at international auction, underlining the present watch’s extreme rarity.
Consigned by a distinguished gentleman from his private collection, this superb vintage Cartier wristwatch has been a prize possession for the past 46 years. The incredibly rare Tank Obus Savonette was produced in extremely small numbers and is highly unusual among Cartier’s wristwatches, its rectangular design with sprung hinged cover over the dial, distinctive ‘Obus’ bullet-shaped lugs and the winding crown concealed within the confines of the case in the 6 o’clock position suggest that it was intended to be worn by sportsmen, the design providing some protection for the most vulnerable parts of the watch.
The present timepiece houses a Cartier signed movement, the case has crisp and clear serial numbers on the back and interior, the front cover is decorated with a simple enamel line rectangle, a masterclass in chic understatement. The dial features Roman numerals and the signature ‘Cartier France’. Accompanied by a Cartier numbered gold deployant clasp, this Tank Obus Savonette is a sublime example of what can only be described as 'the genius of Cartier'. The four-digit stock numbers on the back of the lugs indicate that the present timepiece was sold through Cartier London.
The instantly recognizable yet highly elusive Tank Obus Savonette very rarely appears at auction and, to the best of our knowledge, the present watch is one of only a handful of period examples of this configuration ever to be offered at international auction, underlining the present watch’s extreme rarity.