Tank Solo Automatic Stainless Steel / Silver

Cartier version of ETA 2892-A2. Available with or without date.

The Tank was created by Louis Cartier in 1917, inspired by the plan view of the Renault tanks he observed on the Western Front. The vertical side bars (brancards) that define the case are not bezels but structural elements that flow into the strap — a design so resolved that it has remained essentially unchanged for over a century. The Tank's proportions have influenced nearly every rectangular dress watch that followed. Through variants like the Tank Française, Américaine, and Solo, Cartier has explored every permutation of the original idea without ever abandoning its fundamental geometry. It is arguably the single most important case design in watchmaking history.

The Tank Solo Automatic was introduced in 2012. It is characterized by its flat brancards and entry level price; it is one of the more affordable Tank models in the Cartier line-up. The case of the XL version measures 31*40.85mm and holds the self-winding caliber 049 (ETA 2892-A2). Reference W5200027 has a stainless steel case and a silver dial.