Cartier

The now legendary Tank Louis was designed by Louis Cartier in 1917, inspired by the early French tanks seen on the fronts of the First World War. This classic wristwatch design has become an emblematic staple for Cartier as a brand and has seen little change throughout its existence. 

The 'Jumbo' Tank Louis was given a beefier case in the 1970’s by Cartier Paris, featuring an automatic movement which required a bubbled or dimpled caseback to accommodate the automatic winding rotor. In recent years, these have found an affection from collectors new to vintage Cartier across the world, due to its larger case size.

The present watch was owned by David Prowse, most famous for playing Darth Vader in the original 1970s and 1980s Stars Wars Trilogy along with an impressive career in film and television, working among others with Peter Seller’s and Stanley Kubrick. The watch is mentioned in detail in his autobiography, a copy of which accompanies the watch.

This watch was gifted to Prowse by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia alongside a Cartier Vendôme for his brother Robert (lot 12). It is unsurprising that these watches were larger than the standard references as both men were well over 6ft, with David a staggering 6ft 6 in (198cm).

From Prowse’s autobiography Straight From The Forces Mouth:

8 August [1979]

Somehow, we've moved on to Dallas but although it's a new city the routine's the same and there's another hectic schedule lying in wait.

Five more interviews later, I managed to squeeze in a sunbathe and a swim in the hotel pool whilst I was waiting to be collected to fly to our next stop which was St. Louis. Met a hairdresser from Champagne Illinois, who was in Dallas looking for a job. The temperature today was 97°F so I dived into the pool to accompany her on a few lengths. I hadn't swum more than about 20 yards when I suddenly realised that I had three thousand dollars' worth of Cartier watch on a present from Prince Khalid of Saudi Arabia) and the watch wasn't waterproof. I beat a hasty exit out of the pool and got the hotel concierge to get my watch to a repairer so that it could be cleaned out before the innards went rusty. I was later informed that I had only just made it in time. Another few seconds in the pool and my precious Cartier would have ticked its last.

The present watch and the Cartier Vendôme, lot 12 in the sale, are being offered by the family of David Prowse, being fresh to market having not been offered in the auction of the Estate of David Prowse in 2021. The watch is also accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the family.

For any collector, this offers an opportunity to acquire a watch that carries an immense cinematographic and cultural weight, being owned by an actor who portrayed arguably one of the most iconic film characters of the 20^th Century.