The Shapes of Cartier
Cartier, Paris
Tank Bec d’Aigle | A yellow gold rectangular wristwatch with eagle’s beak-form lugs and brick link gold bracelet | Circa 1950
Auction Closed
May 10, 02:36 PM GMT
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Dial: cream dial signed Cartier, stretched radial Roman numerals, inner chemin-de-fer minute track, blued steel epée hands
Calibre: 10’’’ Jaeger-LeCoultre faceted tonneau-form movement signed European Watch and Clock Co. Inc., damascened Côtes de Genève decoration, lever escapement, 15 jewels, mono-metallic compensation balance, flat hairspring, numbered A37806, referenced beneath dial ‘A’
Movement number: A37’806
Case: 18k yellow gold, rectangular with polished finish, gold screw-set lug bars, case secured by 4 screws to case sides, Bec d’Aigle (eagle’s beak) lugs, gold case back with satin finished centre and polished chamfered edges, octagonal crown set with faceted sapphire, outside case back with hand stamped number 49352, Edmond Jaeger punch mark and French eagle’s head control mark, interior of case back stamped European Watch & Clock Co, Made in France, interior of case top hand stamped 352
Case number: 49’352
Closure: original Cartier 18k gold 7-row brick link bracelet with deployant buckle, numbered 1163 and 63 with French eagle’s head control marks and rubbed Edmond Jaeger punch marks
Size: 22 x 35.5 mm (width x length including lugs)
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: none
Introduced in 1917 by Louis Cartier, the Tank by Cartier remains one of the most iconic wristwatch designs in horology. Over the decades, numerous variations have emerged, among which the Tank Bec d’Aigle stands as one of the rarest and most distinctive.
Named for its characteristic “eagle’s beak” lugs, whose pointed, hooded form creates a stylised profile reminiscent of an eagle, the model offers a unique interpretation of the Tank aesthetic. Its case design echoes the proportions of Cartier’s rectangular 8-day model of 1931, further reinforcing its historical significance.
The present example, fitted with an 18ct yellow gold bracelet and featuring Cartier’s signature white dial displays a rare blend of sculptural design and timeless elegance.