Introduced in the early 1980s following the success of Cartier’s collaboration with Dupont on a collection of co-branded lighters that ended up securing Cartier’s financial future, the Tank Must de Cartier collection is a diffusion line that leveraged the Cartier Tank’s iconic silhouette and Cartier’s legendary branding in a more affordable package so as to offer customers the same look as before but at a more palatable price tag. While the Tank Louis which the Tank Must is based on is made of 18kt yellow gold, the Tank Must collection primarily uses a sterling silver case that is then electroplated in 18kt yellow gold, resulting in a far more economical watch without sacrificing aesthetics. Additionally, the Tank Must collection often featured quartz movements, but on rare occasions it was powered by a manual-wind Cartier movement, like both of our matching examples here. Additionally, to play on its more affordable price tag, Cartier would experiment with different dial designs and finishes, with the two examples here boasting matching burgundy dials with matching golden hands and a distinct lack of inscriptions other than Cartier’s own branding and logo.

How rare of an opportunity to be able to acquire a matching his and hers set of vintage Cartier Tanks in near-pristine condition? Bought on the same day in 1981, this lover's set was destined to be kept together and never split up. Sold at the Costa Mesa (California) boutique, we love the addition of the Cartier NY stock numbers hand stamped on the casebooks.