Is your Tank
the real deal?
Designed by Louis Cartier in 1917, the Tank is one of the most iconic watch designs ever created. Its rectangular case was inspired by the aerial silhouette of WWI Renault tanks, with vertical side bars — called brancards — representing the treads. Over a century later, it remains one of the most counterfeited watches in the world.
How to authenticate a Tank
Brancards (Vertical Side Rails)
The Tank's signature feature is its brancards — the vertical bars that frame the dial on either side. On a genuine Cartier Tank, these rails are perfectly parallel with uniform width from top to bottom and flawless finishing. The transition from brancard to lug should be seamless and precisely machined. Counterfeits often have uneven rail width, poor polishing, or visible tool marks along the edges.
Blue Sapphire Cabochon Crown
The winding crown is topped with a dome-shaped synthetic blue sapphire cabochon, a hallmark of Cartier watches. On genuine Tanks, the cabochon is smooth, perfectly polished, and has a rich, saturated blue with subtle translucency under light. It sits securely in the crown with no visible adhesive. Counterfeits frequently use plastic or glass that appears too pale, too opaque, or has a chalky texture that scratches easily.
Roman Numeral Dial
The Tank dial features Roman numerals with precise, clean printing and even spacing. A well-known detail is the secret "CARTIER" signature hidden within the VII numeral — the vertical strokes of the VII are slightly elongated to spell out the brand name. On genuine models, the numerals are perfectly crisp with consistent stroke weight. Fakes often have blurry printing, wrong font proportions, or miss the hidden signature entirely.
Case Proportions
Each Tank variant has exact, well-defined proportions that Cartier has refined over decades. The rectangular case should have sharp, precise edges and corners with the correct aspect ratio for the specific model — the Tank Louis Cartier is more classically proportioned, while the Tank Américaine is elongated and curved. Counterfeits frequently get the length-to-width ratio wrong, resulting in a case that looks subtly "off" to a trained eye.
Case Back
The case back of a genuine Cartier Tank features deeply engraved markings: the reference number, serial number, "Cartier" branding, metal type, and "Swiss Made" text. The engravings are clean, sharp, and uniformly deep with consistent font weight. On counterfeits, the engravings are typically shallow, blurry, or unevenly spaced, and may use incorrect fonts or contain misspellings in the fine print.
Leather Strap & Deployant Buckle
Genuine Cartier Tank straps use high-quality leather — typically alligator — with precise, even stitching and clean edges. The deployant buckle is stamped with "Cartier" in the brand's proprietary typeface and operates with a smooth, firm click. On counterfeits, the leather may feel stiff or plasticky, the stitching is often uneven or loose, and the buckle engraving is shallow or uses the wrong font.
Tank counterfeit warning signs
Uneven Brancards
The brancards (vertical side rails) are the Tank's most defining feature and should be perfectly parallel with uniform width along their entire length. On counterfeits, the rails may taper inconsistently, have different widths on each side, or show rough finishing and visible machining marks. Any asymmetry in the brancards is an immediate red flag.
Printed vs Applied Roman Numerals
Cartier uses a very specific typeface for its Roman numerals that has remained consistent across Tank models. On fakes, the font is frequently wrong — numerals may be too thick, too thin, unevenly spaced, or use a completely different Roman numeral style. The "CARTIER" text and the hidden signature in the VII must match the brand's specific typeface exactly.
Poor Case Shape
The proportions of a genuine Cartier Tank are extremely precise, having been refined over more than a century. Counterfeits often have a subtly wrong aspect ratio — the case may be too wide, too narrow, or the wrong length for the specific Tank variant. The edges and corners should be crisp and sharp on models like the Tank Louis Cartier, or smoothly curved on the Tank Française. Any deviation in shape is a strong indicator of a fake.
Wrong Crown Cabochon
The sapphire cabochon on the crown should be a rich, deep blue with a perfectly smooth dome. Counterfeits often use plastic or glass instead of synthetic sapphire, resulting in a cabochon that is the wrong shade of blue — too light, too purple, or too grey. Plastic cabochons will scratch easily and may have a matte or cloudy appearance, while genuine sapphire has a glassy luster and is highly scratch-resistant.
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Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Cartier Tank?
The Cartier Tank was inspired by the aerial profile of WWI Renault tanks. Designed by Louis Cartier in 1917 and first delivered in 1919, the rectangular case features vertical side bars called "brancards" that represent the tank's treads when viewed from above. The clean geometric design was revolutionary for its time and has endured for over a century as one of the most recognizable watch silhouettes in the world.
What are the different Tank models?
Cartier offers several Tank variations, each with its own character. The Tank Française features a curved case with an integrated bracelet for a sporty-elegant look. The Tank Must is the accessible entry point to the collection. The Tank Louis Cartier is the classic dress watch closest to the 1917 original, with rounded brancards and a leather strap. The Tank Américaine has an elongated, curved case. The Tank Solo offers a clean, modern interpretation. All share the signature rectangular case and brancard side rails that define the Tank family.
Is a vintage Cartier Tank a good investment?
Vintage Cartier Tanks have proven to hold their value well, and certain references have appreciated significantly over the years. The Tank was famously worn by cultural icons including Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, Muhammad Ali, Yves Saint Laurent, and Andy Warhol — who reportedly never even set the time on his. This celebrity provenance, combined with the design's timeless appeal and over a century of heritage, makes sought-after vintage Tank references strong collectibles. As with any watch investment, condition, provenance, and rarity of the specific reference are the key factors that determine value.