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Cartier Tank Americaine Solid White Gold 18ct Automatic Mid Size, ref. 1726, 2012 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Cartier Tank Americaine Solid White Gold 18ct Automatic Mid Size, ref. 1726, 2012

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Cartier (maker)
Date
2012
Country of origin
France
Object type
Wristwatch
Materials / technique
Solid white gold
Dimensions
Diameter 23 mm (without crown)
Stock no.
gm1117
Credit line
Dealer listing, Vintage Portfolio (gm1117)
Catalogue title (original)
Cartier Tank Americaine Solid White Gold 18ct Automatic Automatik 1726 Mid Size (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Vintage Portfolio (dealer), Vienna (stock number gm1117), this is a wristwatch by Cartier, made in France, dated 2012. The Atlas places it in the Contemporary Horology period (2010 – Present) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: Solid white gold. Recorded dimensions: Diameter 23 mm (without crown). The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer specification — Vintage Portfolio

Movement: automatic with centre seconds; Dial: white; Case: solid white gold; Crown: Genuine (signed); Diameter: 23 mm (without crown); Strap: real leather (blue); Dial condition, as described by the dealer: The still factory original (non-refurbished) dial has slight patina.

Historical context

Contemporary Horology (2010 – Present)

Silicon components, connected watches, optical-lattice research clocks and a thriving independent scene.

Smartwatches became the world's best-selling watches, while mechanical watchmaking focuses on craft, innovation (silicon components, new escapements) and independent makers.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Mechanical Renaissance

Atlas type guide

Automatic (self-winding) watches

Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.

What to look for

  • A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
  • 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
  • A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.

Dating clues

  • Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
  • Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
  • Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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