Cartier Tank Obus Skeleton CPCP

We’ve always been passionate about Cartier’s more obscure watches. We love the Tank and the Santos, but recognize that there are so many lesser appreciated references that deserve our attention.

The Cartier Tank Obus for example, is one of them. The maison has developed a signature design language throughout its vast catalog, but this particular Tank Obus Skeleton CPCP has all the elements of what is bringing new blood into the world of Cartier — clashing design features, avant-garde aesthetics and a pinch of mystery.

Released in 1929, the Tank Obus is known for its unusual shape. Unlike other watches in the Tank line, the Obus is square, not the rectangular shape that many collectors have come to expect. But the most distinctive element of this watch is the shape of the lugs, which look like tiny bullets affixed to the ends of the case.

This piece features the same design cues. Housed in a 27mm 18K yellow gold case, this piece features a cabochon crown and bullet lugs set against the pointed edges of its square silhouette. Sandwiched between two sapphire crystals, this piece features an elaborate skeletonized dial with a matching blued-steel Breguet handset and gogeous, hand-finished, yellow gold dial plate. The underside of the case reveals its manual-winding Cartier Calibre 435 MC movement.

As a part of the Collection Privée Cartier Paris, which saw a production timeline between 1998 and 2008, this piece was amongst many that shed a spotlight on the maison's watchmaking prowess. 

Outfitted on a signed black alligator leather strap with a matching 18K yellow gold deployant buckle, this piece bears the number 52 our of its 100 piece limited production. 

Cartier continues to be scorching hot right now with longtime enthusiasts and those greener behind the ear flocking towards any vintage piece from the maison. The beauty however lies within the fact that there still pieces left to be discovered, even for those that have been around the horological block.

Don't let is equilateral shape fool you, because this Cartier is hardly a square.

It's actually one of the coolest pieces from the maison we've seen to date!

Despite being a purveyor of haute joaillerie, Cartier has had a long tradition of making watches.
It started in 1907, when founder Louis Cartier made what was one of the first wristwatches for his friend Alberto Santos-Dumont. In the following years, the brand made a name for itself with its most famous wristwatch, the Tank, in all its multitudinous forms.
Cartier introduced the Tank in 1917 — which was supposedly inspired by the Renault FT-17 tanks seen on the battlefields of World War I — with a run of six pieces. (According to legend, these were given to American General John J. Pershing and his staff.) Cartier took the look of the Renault tank's treads and applied it to the watch’s lugs, which were integrated via brancards into the case itself. That first run of six pieces increased to thirty-three by 1920, and by the end of the 20th Century, that number stood well in the hundreds of thousands. Indeed, in sheer volume alone, the Tank — in all its various models — is Cartier's largest line of watches.
The Tank Louis was introduced in 1922, followed close on the heels of the Asian-influenced Tank Chinoise. The Chinoise, released amidst a mania for jewelry inspired by the Orient, has a square rather than rectangular case and lugs that resemble the portico of a Chinese pagoda.
From its debut, the Tank would see many variations, each in keeping with Louis Cartier’s taste for clean lines and perfect symmetry. Each variant — from the original Tank to the Tank Louis to the Cintrée with its flirtatious, curvaceous lines — has its passionate devotees. Rudolph Valentino, that sensual star of the silver screen, insisted on wearing his Tank onscreen in The Son of the Sheik, and Clark Gable, Andy Warhol, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis were among those who sported a one throughout the years.
Other model lines, including the Santos (based upon the original model crafted for Alberto Santos-Dumont) and the Pasha, have developed devoted followers. Indeed, the maison is unique as one of the few jewelry brands to elicit as much passion from collectors as dedicated watch companies.

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Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.