Cartier Tank à Vis Reference Guide

quattro · 2025-06-22T15:53:05Z

Explore the rare Cartier Tank à Vis from the CPCP collection. Quattro reviews dual time, time only, and wandering hours models in white metals. Discover why these unique Cartier Tank references are so seldom seen.

quattro

WPS member · Cartier forum

21 replies2328 views9 photos

Emmanuel, known as quattro on WatchProSite, presents a captivating exploration of the Cartier Tank à Vis, a distinguished series from the Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP). His detailed showcase of three white metal examples—featuring dual time, time only, and wandering hours complications—invites readers to appreciate the nuanced elegance and rarity of these exceptional timepieces. This article delves into why these particular Tank models, despite their horological significance, remain largely out of public view.

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Introduced in the early 2000s, the Cartier Tank à Vis (literally Tank with screws) was introduced as part of the Collection Privée Cartier Paris (CPCP).

Here are three examples in white metals with different complications: dual time, time only and wandering hours.

I wonder why we see so few of them...

Best, Emmanuel

A/ Tank à Vis Dual Time ref. 2552

28 x 32 x 8 mm white gold case & calibre 9901MC

credit: a collected man

B/ Tank à Vis ref. 2485D

27 x 31 mm platinum case & Calibre 437MC

credit: wind vintage & Mr Watchley (last photo)

C/ Tank à Vis with wandering hours, ref. 2554

28 x 32 mm white gold case (40mm lug to lug) & manual-winding Cal. 045MC

Notice the vertical numbers on the date disk at 6 o’clock.

credit: a collected man

Key Points from the Discussion

The scarcity of Tank à Vis models is attributed to their limited production as part of the CPCP line, coupled with owners' strong inclination to retain these unique pieces, preventing them from frequently appearing on the secondary market.
The Tank à Vis successfully blends classic dress watch aesthetics with a robust mechanical feel, particularly highlighted by its distinctive bezel screws, a design hallmark consistent with Cartier's historical approach.
A notable missed opportunity for the Tank à Vis, given its inspiration from an early water-resistant watch made for the Pasha of Marrakech, is its limited water resistance, which could have more thoroughly fulfilled its conceptual origins.

The Discussion

AuHavrePro

Jun 22, 2025

I've never seen some of these watches! 👏😍

quattro

Jun 23, 2025

These timepieces are indeed less talked about

than they should be. Best, Emmanuel

blau

Jun 22, 2025

I've long been attracted to these

I love the combination of classic dressiness with robust mechanical feel (those bezel screws!). That combo was a Cartier hallmark from early on. One thing I wish Cartier had done is make this watch more water resistant--it's supposed inspiration was an early water-resistant watch made for the Pasha of Marrakech. It would have been nice for Cartier to have fulfilled that concept more thoroughly.

ArmisT

Jun 22, 2025

+1 unique and endearing combination of classic and robust given those screws💪🏽

quattro

Jun 23, 2025

Classic dressiness and robust mechanical feel:

I couldn’t have said it better! Water resistance is a downside indeed. Dressiness > robustness… Best, Emmanuel

KMII

Jun 22, 2025

I guess that got done in the Pasha line… 😊🤷🏻‍♂️