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Cartier Tank Française Two-Tone, 2000s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Cartier (maker)
Date
2000s
Country of origin
France
Object type
Wristwatch
Materials / technique
two-tone
Dimensions
Case 20 mm
Stock no.
40950566
Credit line
Dealer listing, Analog/Shift (40950566)
Catalogue title (original)
Cartier Tank Française Two-Tone (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Analog/Shift (dealer), New York (stock number 40950566), this is a wristwatch by Cartier, made in France, dated 2000s. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: two-tone. Recorded dimensions: Case 20 mm. 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 description — Analog/Shift

What do General Pershing, Andy Warhol, Jackie Kennedy, and Muhammad Ali all have in common? At one point or another, they all wore a Cartier Tank. Few watches can claim such a diverse and influential following. Since its introduction in 1917, the Tank has transcended trends, generations, and even the watch industry itself, becoming one of the most recognizable designs ever strapped to a wrist. Inspired by the aerial view of Renault tanks crossing the battlefields of World War I, Louis Cartier created a watch whose clean geometry and elegant proportions remain as relevant today as they were more than a century ago. Of course, the Tank story extends far beyond the original model. Introduced in 1996, the Tank Française reimagined the classic design for a more contemporary audience. While retaining the unmistakable rectangular case, Roman numerals, railroad minute track, and sapphire cabochon crown that define the collection, the Française introduced a seamlessly integrated bracelet and more architectural case profile, creating a watch that feels both sporty and refined. This Reference 2384 is a quintessential example. Crafted in a two-tone case and measuring 20mm across, it features a crisp white dial with Cartier's signature Roman numerals, blued-steel sword hands, sapphire crystal, and a reliable quartz movement. The matching two-tone bracelet flows directly into the case, giving the watch a sleek, jewelry-like presence on the wrist while maintaining the timeless elegance that has made the Tank such an enduring icon. Dating to the 2000s, this Tank Française represents one of Cartier's most successful modern interpretations of its most famous design. For collectors who appreciate the history of the Tank but prefer the versatility and everyday wearability of a bracelet, it remains one of the smartest entries in the Cartier universe. After all, when you're starting with one of the greatest watch designs ever created, sometimes a subtle twist is all that's needed.

Historical context

Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)

Mechanical watches return as cultural objects; independent watchmaking flourishes.

Mechanical watches returned as cultural and luxury objects. Complications, tourbillons and new materials proliferated; independent watchmakers such as George Daniels, F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour revived artisanal watchmaking; collecting vintage watches became a major field.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Quartz Revolution

Atlas type guide

Wristwatches

Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.

After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.

What to look for

  • The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
  • The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
  • Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
  • Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.

Dating clues

  • Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
  • Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
  • Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.

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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