ThisCintre Dual Time combines an elegant curved case with a practical, dual time complication. Itstraditionalyellowcase wraps around the wrist, inan unmistakeable way.

The TankCintre

Created by Louis Cartier in 1917, theTankbecame publicly available in 1919, in very limited numbers. TheTank Cintrewas itself , developing on the design traits of the original. Itselongated rectangular case and elegant curves quickly became a classic, having been adoptedbyFred Astaire, Steve McQueen and Ralph Lauren, to name just a few.Vintage examples of theTank Cintrewere made in extremely limited numbers, and examples that remain in original condition come up for public sale infrequently, making them as elusive, as they are attractive.

Towards the end of the 20th century, the industry was still recovering from the impact of the quartz crisis, with consumers just starting to redevelop an interest in mechanical watches. In the midst of this,Cartieraimed to reestablish its credibility as a true watchmaking manufacture.They brought back some of themost iconicCartierdesigns from the past century, combined with mechanical movements. In many cases, these distinctive designs hadnt been produced for decades, speaking to the jewellers desire to place an increased focus on its heritage.

Eventually, this would culminate in theCollection Prive Cartier Paris, which was in place between 1998 and 2008. Prior to this, however,Cartierreleased a few pieces which spoke to this newly found focus on heritage, mechanics and inventiveness. Combiningthe classic, curved lines of theCintrewith a contemporary complication, thisTank Cintre Dual Timeisperhaps one of the most inventive pieces from this era.

A Contemporary Design

Cased inyellow gold, thisCintre Dual Timeis both elongated and noticeably curved,measuring 45mm by 23mm. Just 8mm thick, itserves as an elegant dress watch, fitting perfectly beneath the cuff.It hugs the wrist, in a way that is both supremely comfortable, yet distinctively elegant and characterful.Overall, the design is more angular than that found on previous Cintre watches,which is most obvious when looking at the lugs and crowns.

Thepolished sides of the bezel feature an arched shape, sloping down as they reaches the extremities of the case. Meanwhile, the sides of the case are brushed, which creates an interesting interplay of textures, with two sapphirecabochons bringing a touch of colour. It features a closed caseback, with a brushed finish.

This piecepresents a distinctive take on the dual time complication, with two dials sitting on top of one another, powered by two independant movements. The top dial features Roman numerals going all the way round, whilst the bottom one features a more pared back design. The "CARTIER" signature sits in the middle,with "PARIS" also appearing on the bottom dial. The dial is lightly textured, with an off white colour reminiscent of the French jeweller's vintage pieces, whilst theblued steel hands are executed in a legible sword shape.

The Movement

Thisyellow goldCartier Cintre Dual Timeis powered by two separateETA 2412calibres.This manual-winding movement has a diameter of 15.3mm, and was likely chosen on account of itsmodest size, which allows it to be integrated within the slim, curved case.

The Set

Closer look