Cartier Tank Basculante

Overall Condition: The case is in great condition overall showing some light wear from age and use.

The famed Cartier Tank comes in all shapes and sizes, perhaps none of them as unique and compelling as the Basculante.

With its elegant engraved dial and unique reversible case, the Tank Basculante stands out amongst Cartier's Tank models. Released in 1932, a year after the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, it certainly shares functional similarities with the better-known model from Le Senrtier: a carriage case in which the dial and movement are housed pivoting inside an outer case, to reverse and protect the dial side - much like the Reverso's. However, unlike Jaeger-LeCoultre’s design, which uses a single track 'slider' mechanism, the Basculante employs a swinging frame. When deployed, the inner carriage case looks as if it's on a seesaw. Hence the name, which comes from the French bascule, or seesaw.

The Tank Basculante may seem to some a pale imitation of the Reverso, but the subtle differences set it apart. Small details such as the winding crown at 12 o'clock and subtle pattern work on the dial make the Basculante truly original.

This particular Basculante comes with a unqiue darker dial (unlike the conventional white or silver iterations) and matching sword handset. Sized 36mm x 24mm in stainless steel the Arabic dial and compact proportions make this watch a standout from the collections.

Choosing a Cartier Tank is always a formula for dress watch success — but choosing a Basculante, with its signature reversible design, signals a particularly refined level of taste.