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Cartier's reinvention of the beloved timepiece is an ode to enduring Parisian elegance
Something about Paris sweeps you under your feet. That je ne sais quoi is effortless, understated and timeless in its sophistication, and it blankets the entire city from the grandest hallmarks to the littlest details. No wonder a place like this inspired creative freedom for Cartier. So, in its pursuit to encapsulate such an avant-garde spirit, the French luxury house first launched the elegant Tank Française in 1996, a timepiece distinguished by its ultra-profiled lines and debonair edge.
Evolving the aesthetic codes of the iconic Tank de Cartier family, the Tank Française debuted a rectangular, monobloc design that seamlessly connects the sleek metal-linked bracelet with the subtly curved case in terms of both volume and material. A tribute to the architectural history of Paris as well, this perfect harmony transformed the iconic Tank into a “bracelet watch”. Blued steel hands powered by a quartz movement and a silvered dial with Roman numerals further accentuate the purity of its shape, masterfully threading the line between the classicism and style freedom of the French state of mind.
See also: We'll Always Have Paris: Explore the City Of Light Through the Eyes of Locals
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More than 25 years after the Tank Française’s creation, Cartier reinvigorates the chronograph with a modern approach, mirroring the City of Light’s unique ability to reinvent itself and stand the test of time. “The new Tank Française reflects a creative conviction,” elucidates Marie-Laure Cérède, creative director for jewellery and watchmaking at Cartier. “Like rediscovering the raw nature of a cut stone, it was about capturing the watch’s radical shape, simplifying its essential lines and stripping them of all embellishment to return to the myth’s origin.”
Many of its signature details are thus retained in the brand-new edition, translated into differently sized variations in steel and yellow gold, either with or without diamonds on the sides of the bezel. The flexible chain bracelet now creates an ergonomic curve that is suited for all wrists, and is complemented by more rounded brancards and an inlaid crown to match this profile. With mainly satin finishes, the sunray dial is also highlighted by an intrinsic shine that makes the novelty as alluring as ever.
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A timeless expression of chic French style, the Tank Française always connects us to the cultural geography of Paris, the beating heart and creative wellspring of Cartier. The watch’s recent evolution is a reminder that, while times are ever in flux, elegance is constant. With this Tank on your wrist, you will surely be swept off to the enchanting capital city in an instant, falling in love at once and all over again.
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Trained as a student journalist, Mac’s knack for writing was a serendipitous discovery. Years later and she can’t imagine doing anything else. When she isn’t typing away on a story, she revels in being lost in a new city, revisiting a cosy film or sitcom, and idling away with her dogs.
