I like Tank MC for the following replies to your question

Jul 15, 2013,08:17 AM
 

 

mbeech1,


Everyone is entitled to a personal opinion when it is about style and design. Thank you for yours.

I cannot refute those comments that were made politely but I can fill in some facts and background to put them in context. It is difficult to maintain no changes for a marque with more than 100 years history in wristwatch making.   Change is Life.

 

Your post distilled down to some keypoints:


1) Disappointment in the (lack of) elegance of design and the Tank MC size is too large.

 

Size
Indeed the Tank MC watch is larger than the old Tank models like the LC, Francaise or Solo, but it has been designed to be an addition to the catalogue and not a replacement for the smaller watches. The design brief was to design a new watch as a "masculine expression of elegance".

That is the trend that is completely in keeping with the most important people at Cartier  --  the customers.

 

 

 
Santos-Dumont

 

The Santos-Dumont (square) range of watches with similar large movements are flying out of the shops and the Tank MC is a response to customers asking for a masculine Tank.  The Tank MC is not as long as the huge Tank Americaine; that shape is usually used for the watches with grand complications. Tank MC is designed around the base calibre 1904MC but also has to accommodate the large square calibre 9611MC.

 

 

 

 
Tank MC with 9611MC movement

 

Design
The new Tank MC exhibits some elegant design motifs and perhaps even more so than our favourite vintage Tank LC, which after all is like a simple military field stretcher or armoured vehicle.  The combination of brushed and polished surfaces adjacent to each other and the juxtaposition of the straight and curved lines were carefully designed for form and function; fitting a range of wrists.

See previous article about military stretchers and armoured vehicles: CLICK the URL below:

cartier.watchprosite.com

 


2) Seconds sub-dial too large.

This may be a personal choice but specifically in the masculine design brief, there are some relationship rules of mathematical proportion being applied;

 - balancing the Cartier logo and using the proportions of a recessed circle within a short rectangular dial

 - but still allowing the seconds to be visualised despite the orbiting hours and minutes hands.

 

 

 
Tank MC


3) Date completely unnecessary.

Some may prefer the absence of a date window but Cartier has a history of offering date displays since the 1970s. It is not a betrayal of their watchmaking heritage to continue to do so. I recall the Santos (1978), Panthere (1983), Pasha (1985) and Tank Americaine gents (1989), Tank Americaine ladies (1996), Tank Francaise for the 3rd millennium (1995) all had date display.

In the field, customers asking for date display (in a masculine watch for daily use) far outnumber those preferring none.

There may be a reversed preference if applied to a dress watch like the Tank LC, under french cuffs or a tuxedo, for only the duration of a gala dinner.  Most of my dinners only straddle two adjacent dates at most....  smile

 

The smaller Tank models are still available if the masculine Tank MC is not to taste.

 

Regards,
MTF

 

 

 

This message has been edited by MTF on 2013-07-15 08:26:22


More posts: grand complicationsPantherePashaSantosTankTank AmericaineTank FrancaiseTank MC

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My view on the Cartier Tank MC line

 
 By: foversta : July 3rd, 2013-14:44
As promised, here are my own feelings about the different Cartier Tank MC. Actually, I had the chance to shoot them today. But I will be frank with you: they were very difficult to shoot. Why? Simply because the shapes and curves of the cases combined wit...  

Great report and photos!

 
 By: Hagen : July 3rd, 2013-15:21
Thank You very much. I really am very impressed with this MC line. I really like the photos you took, it looks like a more realistic view than the ones I have seen so far. Perhaps even a softer, more rounded look to the models than in the commercial photo... 

Thanks Carl for your nice words.

 
 By: foversta : July 4th, 2013-14:15
It is the main purpose of my reports: to bring you really "live" pics and candid comments! Thanks Carl for your message! Fx

Fantastic review as always.

 
 By: Spellbound : July 3rd, 2013-15:50
It looks like the size and shape are perfect. Do you know if the MC Skeleton will also be offered in PG? This for me is probably the first see through watch that is wearable, as, as you mention, the spaces are small enough to give the impression that it i... 

It could be possible Dean

 
 By: foversta : July 4th, 2013-14:20
The same movement, the 9611 MC, was released in PG even if it was not seen very often. So the base exists. Question is about the will to do it! Thanks a lot for your words Dean! Fx

In the ranking of Cartier Tank watches

 
 By: MTF : July 3rd, 2013-20:51
Frx, Thanks for the personal review in-person. Cartier just had their Global Staff Meeting in Paris and so I await the return of my local representatives bringing home the goodies to try. :-) Some of you may already know of my dachshund's ranking of the r... 

Thanks a lot Melvyn for your ranking!

 
 By: foversta : July 4th, 2013-14:23
And I agree with it! It is the reason why that I think that this line is a very valuable addition to the Tank collection. I can't wait to have your personal comments about the Tank MC! Fx

Superb report Foversta!

 
 By: Geo : July 7th, 2013-11:43
really cool to seeing the pictures. GEO

Thanks Geo!

 
 By: foversta : July 8th, 2013-11:41
As always, it was a pleasure to bring them. Fx

Great review and pictures

 
 By: pmb600 : July 8th, 2013-16:34
Excellent writeup. Agree completely on the comments on the movement finishing. The 1904 MC is a solid movement but the finishing underestimates what it is.

Thanks a lot for your comments.

 
 By: foversta : July 10th, 2013-12:29
I wore the Calibre and I appreciate the performances of the 1904MC movement. A very clever conception. Fx

Thanks for the review and the pics!

 
 By: TOPLIMIT : July 11th, 2013-09:27
The Tank MC looks really good on your wrists! Can't wait to see it in person though, especially the skeleton version. Looks really modern, but yet it still has that classic "Cartier DNA" in it :)

Thanks Tricolore!

 
 By: foversta : July 15th, 2013-13:40
I agree with your comments! Fx

Anyone else disappointed in these new tanks?

 
 By: mbeech1 : July 14th, 2013-10:51
I am pretty sure I am not the only one! The direction Cartier has gone in recent years is quite disappointing. Gone are the days of elegantly designed tanks of modest size. The watch's design is troubling in many respects: it's sub seconds dial is far too... 

love it!

 
 By: kpe0007 : July 14th, 2013-19:31
I already have one on order. I am a big fan of Cartier and am wearing a CPCP Rotonde as I right this and have several Tank Americans. This new MC is a home run in my opinion. A true classic with Cartier DNA.

I like Tank MC for the following replies to your question

 
 By: MTF : July 15th, 2013-08:17
mbeech1, Everyone is entitled to a personal opinion when it is about style and design. Thank you for yours. I cannot refute those comments that were made politely but I can fill in some facts and background to put them in context. It is difficult to maint...  

Lug width?

 
 By: Hagen : February 5th, 2014-18:41
I wonder if anyone could tell me the lug width. I am very interested in this watch. It may seem surprising, but I was intent on getting a Rolex Submariner with ceramic bezel and no date. I really want a watch with a black dial. One that can be worn for ca... 

Internal width at lugs 26mm

 
 By: MTF : February 6th, 2014-04:27
Cartier do not entertain listing specifications classified by lug width and taper. They will specify lug width by specific model e.g. 26 mm internal dimensions for Tank MC. As only the deployant clasp is supplied for the Tank MC, the leather strap is spec... 

Thank You..

 
 By: Hagen : February 6th, 2014-21:24
for the quick response. I am going in to try one on this weekend, so I can make up my mind. Now that I read what you have to say, I realize that the Tank especially really doesn't have any lugs. That is really quite a wide strap, but I certainly have hear... 

I can understand your point of view.

 
 By: foversta : July 15th, 2013-14:08
Melvyn already brought you a comprehensive answer. I will reply to you with a shorter one. I really think that these TANK MC are a good trend. I found them more balanced and more seducing than some Tank I have seen during the past years. So you don't like... 

Got to see it in person

 
 By: pmb600 : July 25th, 2013-11:44
I had the opportunity to see and try on the watch at Cartier in New York last week. I liked the watch even more than I anticipated. It fit my wrist perfectly and I love the classic tank look. I had always liked the Tank Francaise however felt it was too s... 

Skeleton MC

 
 By: Roni M : July 28th, 2013-09:20
Indeed a lovely timepiece that after along time has a connect to Cartier's historic DNA and with the size being reasonable compared to the recent large offerings,an added attraction. But the concept of putting a deposit (though refundable) just to see the... 

A treat for our eyes

 
 By: akitaishi : October 1st, 2013-08:26
Hi, The picture posted are a treat to our eyes I must say !. Recently spotted the Cartier advertisement in local TV. It briefly showed the watch and starred the HK star Andy Lau. Most of the advertisement was on the star rather than the watch. Only a brie...