The Shapes of Cartier
Cartier, Paris
Tank Normale ‘Grande’ | New York retailed: A rare yellow gold rectangular wristwatch with yellow and pink gold deployant buckle, Circa 1945
Session begins in
June 15, 02:00 PM GMT
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Dial: matte white dial signed Cartier France, stretched radial black Roman numerals, inner minute markers, blued steel epée hands
Caliber: 10’’’ circular LeCoultre calibre signed E. W. & C. Co. Inc. for the European Watch and Clock Co. Inc., damascened Côtes de Genève decoration, lever escapement, 18 jewels, bi-metallic compensation balance with timing and poising screws, Breguet hairspring, adjusted to 2 positions and temperature
Movement number: numbered beneath dial 35'007
Case: 18k yellow gold, polished upper body, gold screw-set lug bars, case secured by four gold screws to case sides, octagonal crown, flat satin finished case back, left case side with French eagle’s head control mark, outside case back with French eagle’s head control mark and Edmond Jaeger punch mark
Case number: hand stamped 33'799 and hand etched 010'502, inside case back hand stamped 3[2]3'799
Closure: 18k yellow and pink gold deployant buckle with D-shaped clasp, buckle interior with Edmond Jaeger punch mark and stamped twice with French eagle’s head control mark, and hand stamped numbers 11'969
Size: 33 x 24.7 mm
Accessories: Cartier presentation box
Franco Cologni, The Cartier Tank Watch, Paris: Flammarion, 2023. See p. 91 for an illustration of a slightly later Cartier Tank Normale.
With a larger case than the standard Tank Normale, this rare ‘Grande’ version has a bold case measuring 24.7 x 33 mm - the standard Normale measures approximately 23 x 30.5 mm.
In addition to its greater presence on the wrist, the Normale ‘Grande’ model also incorporates a larger 10’’’ LeCoultre calibre movement; standard versions of the Normale were usually fitted with a 9¼’’’ movement.
From our research into early Tank models, it would appear that the first larger Tank Normale wristwatches with 10’’’ movements were made in a limited number around 1926-27. The next largest vintage Tank from the Normale and Louis ranges is the 1975 Automatique model which has a case measuring 26 x 34.1 mm to accommodate the model’s automatic movement.