
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Cartier Tank Normale 78092 Mk3 with Box
- Maker / attribution
- Cartier (maker)
- Date
- c. 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- France
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- Product 9638075957524
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Collectors Corner NY (product 9638075957524)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Cartier Tank Normale 78092 Mk3 w/Box - Near Mint/*Unpolished* (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Collectors Corner NY (dealer), New York (stock number Product 9638075957524), this is a wristwatch by Cartier, made in France, dated c. 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches 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 — Collectors Corner NY
The Cartier Tank has achieved iconic status in the world of watch design and, with the exception of a few distinctive variations, has maintained a consistent aesthetic throughout its extensive production history. The first commercially available Tank Normale was introduced in 1919, having been inspired by the treads of the French Renault FT-17 tank used in WW1. Throughout the decades, Tank watches have been documented on the wrists of notable figures from Jackie Kennedy to Andy Warhol. Today, Cartier feels more relevant in the worlds of fashion, music and popular culture than ever before. This Normale, circa 1970s is likely one of the best surviving examples in the world today. Remaining in stunning vintage condition, this piece boasts a completely mint mk3 Paris signed dial with hidden Cartier signature at 7 o'clock. According to Cartier scholars, it is believed that fewer than 50 mk3 Normales were produced. The case has remained completely unpolished with sharp and distinct chamfers, displaying deep and crisp hallmarks. This is a true survivor that likely sat in a safe for the past several decades and even appears to be on its original Cartier strap with 18k deployant buckle. If you've been looking for a top quality Normale, this piece represents a great opportunity to get into a true collector grade example. Explore more of our vintage Cartier watches .
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
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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