Cartier Introduces the Tank Must de Cartier Monochrome Colours

Vintage-inspired, solid-colour dials.

Capitalising on the enduring popularity of the Tank, Cartier has (re)launched the Tank Must de Cartier at Watches & Wonders 2021.

The new Tank Must line includes several entry-level watches in steel, including an unusual solar-powered model, and also a trio of watches with monochrome, solid colour dials in red, green and blue that are inspired by originals of the 1970s.

Initial thoughts

Appealing for its simple, 1970s style, the new Tank Must is especially striking in red, which is Cartier’s house colour. The cases are all “large model” size, which makes it suited to both genders, though more of a formal-dress watch for men.

But they are all unfortunately powered by quartz movements, which are entirely acceptable given the affordable price. Given the style and movement, the new Tank Must is best suited to someone who wants a fuss-free watch that is quintessentially Cartier but not too expensive. Watch enthusiasts will probably have to wait for new versions with mechanical movements in the coming years.

Vintage Technicolor

The Must de Cartier Tank was born in 1977 as a mass-market product at a low price – and it was a massive hit. Prior to the Must – “I must have a Cartier” – the Tank had only been manufactured in precious metals and never been on an industrial scale. The Must de Cartier watches, which also included the Santos and other case shapes, transformed Cartier into the watch and jewellery giant it is today.

While the new Tank Must line encompasses three case sizes, small, large, and extra-large, only the large model can be had with the monochrome-colour dials that have nothing except the Cartier name and a tiny “Swiss made” at six. The rich dial colours of the Tank Must draw inspiration from a similar Les Must de Cartier model of the 1970s, though the vintage original was only available in burgundy or blue.

Though they share the same name, the new Tank Must are far better watches than the 1970s originals. Whereas the originals relied on thin vermeil, or gold-plated sterling silver, for the case, the new models are robust stainless steel. And the new Tank Must is powered by a quartz movement, and paired with alligator straps in matching colours.

Cartier Care

The new Tank watches are eligible for Cartier Care program, which entails a warranty extension, taking the total to eight years.

And to mark the debut of the new Tank models, Cartier is offering a “complementary maintenance and service to any owner of this watch, regardless of the year it was created” – which applies to any vintage Les Must de Cartier Tank. Presumably, the complementary servicing will not be a permanent offering – there was a similar, limited-time offer for vintage Pasha models last year – so Tank owners would do well to act sooner rather than later.