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Cartier Tank Louis Travel Desk Alarm Clock (Ref. 7505), 1980s — view 1 of 6
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Cartier Tank Louis Travel Desk Alarm Clock (Ref. 7505), 1980s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Cartier (maker)
Date
1980s
Country of origin
France
Object type
Clock
Stock no.
CTRTDAC7505
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (CTRTDAC7505)
Catalogue title (original)
1980s Cartier Tank Louis Travel Desk Alarm Clock (Ref. 7505) W/ Box & Papers (English)

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

Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number CTRTDAC7505), this is a clock by Cartier, made in France, dated 1980s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Clocks collection. 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 — Craft & Tailored

The Cartier Tank is one of the most enduring designs in horology- instantly recognizable, effortlessly elegant, and largely unchanged since its debut in 1917, with public release following in 1919. Inspired by the silhouette of the Renault FT-17 tank, the Tank’s clean lines and balanced proportions have made it a favorite among cultural icons, from Princess Diana to Muhammad Ali and Andy Warhol, the latter famously remarking that he wore his Tank not to tell the time, but simply because it was “the watch to wear.” In the 1980s, Cartier revisited this legendary design language through a series of refined travel desk clocks, including the quartz Tank Louis Travel Alarm Clock Ref. 7505. Faithful to the original’s aesthetic, this piece translates the Tank’s timeless geometry into a compact, portable format, equally suited for a bedside table, office desk, or life on the move. Both functional and undeniably stylish, it offers a unique way to experience one of watchmaking’s most iconic designs beyond the wrist, embodying Cartier’s ability to merge utility with enduring sophistication. SPECS Stock # CTRTDAC7505 Brand Cartier Style Tank Louis Travel Desk Alarm Clock Model 7505 Serial 24XX Size N/A Material Brass W/ Gold Plating and Black Lacquer Accents Dial White Roman Millimeters 71.5 X 97 CASE The hefty gold-plated brass case exhibits some gentle signs of use, expected for the age of the clock, with some minor orange-peel texture present in the black lacquer portions and marks present in high-touch areas. The crystal remains free of blemishes. The hinged stand operates perfectly, as do all of the toggle controls on the backside of the clock. DIAL & HANDS The classically formatted white dial, featuring Roman numerals and railroad minute track is in excellent condition, showing no apparent damage or notable age. The original black lacquer hands and white alarm hand are in excellent condition. ACCESSORIES

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz movements and digital displays made accurate clocks cheap and ubiquitous after the early 1970s. LED and LCD clocks, clock radios and radio-controlled clocks appeared, while traditional mechanical clockmaking contracted sharply in Germany, France and Britain.

Read the period in the timelineMore clocks from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Alarm clocks

Alarm work is among the oldest clock functions: monastic clocks woke monks for night prayers, and Renaissance table clocks often carried an alarm disc set by a pin. A separate spring or weight is released at the set time and drives a hammer against a bell. Some early alarms also lit a candle by striking a flint — the 'tinder pistol' alarm.

The cheap, mass-produced alarm clock arrived in the second half of the nineteenth century. American firms such as Seth Thomas and Westclox (the 'Big Ben' of 1910) and German makers such as Junghans and Kienzle made millions of drum-shaped alarms with pin-pallet escapements. Electric, quartz and digital alarm clocks followed in the twentieth century.

What to look for

  • A separate alarm-setting dial or disc and an extra winding key.
  • Twin bells on top (common after c. 1920) or a bell enclosed in the base.
  • Pin-pallet escapements in inexpensive factory alarms.
  • Trademarks and patent dates on dial or back.

Dating clues

  • Renaissance alarm table clocks: sixteenth to seventeenth centuries.
  • Drum alarm clocks: from the 1870s.
  • Luminous dials with radium paint: c. 1910–1960.

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.

Read next:Verge escapementAnchor (recoil) escapement

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