Introducing: The Cartier Tank Cintre Skeleton

September 01, 2017

By now you should already be aware that 2017 is the 100th anniversary of the Cartier Tank. As far as horological milestones go, it doesn't get much bigger than this. Though earlier this year Cartier was focused on the re-release of the?Panthre, it's now Tank time. Today we saw the unveiling of four new anniversary collections that range from the basic to the extravagant. The Tank Cintre Skeleton is most certainly the latter. The Cintre was first released back in 1921. While the Tank was first created in 1917, it didn't take Cartier long to start iterating on the design. The Tank Cintre, for example, was born in 1921. The name Cintre refers to the compressed profile of the model, which is slimmer (top to bottom) and more narrow (side to side) than other Tanks. It also has a curves profile that lets the elongated case sit close and low to the wrist. The Tank is already an elegant watch, but the Cintre takes this to a whole other level. This Cintre takes that classic form and brings something new in the form of a highly skeletonized movement and a clean, modern-looking design. The rose gold or platinum case measures 46.3mm x 23mm x 7.96mm, meaning it's on the long side, but slim and narrow as well. It's a little hard to tell from the images here, but you still have the curved profile that hugs the wrist, and on this watch in particular it helps keep that 46.3mm length from wearing as large as it sounds. The blued steel hands display the time with the help of the chapter ring, which actually acts as the bridges for the movement too. The Cartier Tank Cintre Skeleton in platinum. That movement is the star of the show here too. The caliber 9917 MC is designed and produced in-house by Cartier. It is a highly skeletonized, manually-wound movement and in this watch you can see all the major components at work, with the power barrel up top, the going train running down the center, and the escapement at the bottom. You'll also notice that the 9917 MC is curved to match the signature curvature of the Cintre's case. It's good to see that Cartier took this idea all the way and created something curved through and through rather than just using a smaller, flat movement that would fit anyway. TheCartier Tank Cintre Skeleton in rose gold. For now, Cartier hasn't revealed any more details than this. We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. The Cartier Tank Cintre Skeleton is available in pink gold and platinum, with prices set at $56,000 and $62,000, respectively. Each is limited to just 100 pieces, a nod to the fact that this is a special piece created to celebrate the Tank's 100th birthday. And a heck of a celebration it is.For more, visit Cartier online.