Hands-on: The new Cartier Tank Francaise

Text/photo: Aleksandar Mladenovic

A 90s classic is back with a freshening up. Cartier Tank Francaise made its debut in 1996 and this year gets a so-called facelift with a couple of interesting changes that make the model lean more towards the sporty side than before. Eqotime took a closer look at the novelties

7 different references in 3 sizes

The model is relaunched in 3 different sizes in 7 different executions, 4 in gold and 3 in steel. The gold versions come with or without diamonds in the sizes small and medium, where all of them are battery driven. Small measures 21.2 x 25.7mm and is 6.8mm thick and medium measures 27 x 32mm and is 7.1mm thick.

In steel there is also an automatic version in the size large that measures 30.5 x 36.7mm and is 10.1mm thick and where a date at 3 o'clock is also found. The movement in the automatic version is an in-house Cartier calibre

So what separates the 2023 Tank Francaise from earlier versions? First and foremost the case sides are more rounded and the crown more ”embedded” in the case. Secondly the cases and the links are to a greater extent matte (polished case sides) compared with the older version, which had more polished elements in above all the bracelet, something we see as a big improvement since it contributes to a slightly sportier look.

As for the dials, they are typical Cartier with their Roman indices, however these are applied and raised above the dial, which contributes to a more three-dimensional effect compared with the classic enamelled dials with printed indices. The markers shift appearance depending on the light conditions and look silvery in certain light and black in others, a pleasant touch.

Something that is also positive according to us on the editorial team is the dial's surface finish, above all on the larger versions in steel – there the surface is namely vertically brushed compared with the gold versions' and the smallest one in steel's sunburst finish.

What we would on the other hand have preferred was that they had kept the date window's placement at 6 o'clock as on earlier versions as far as the larger model is concerned, it feels a little too squeezed in and is not especially aesthetically appealing when you have cut off the index at 3 o'clock.

The Cartier Tank Francaise is an excellent choice for anyone looking for something sportily elegant and the feeling of a bracelet combined with a watch. A slightly sportier iteration of the classic Tank that fits excellently on both a female and a male wrist.

Prices and overview

Cartier Tank Francaise Small steel WSTA0065 – 41,500kr
Cartier Tank Francaise Medium steel WSTA0074 – 53,000kr
Cartier Tank Francaise Large steel WSTA0067 – 65,000kr

Cartier Tank Francaise Small gold WGTA0114 – 251,000kr
Cartier Tank Francaise Small gold with brilliants WJTA0039 – 331,000kr
Cartier Tank Francaise Medium gold WGTA0113 – 292,000kr
Cartier Tank Francaise Medium gold with brilliants WJTA0040 – 368,000kr

For more information about the novelties, visit Cartier's website