Released in 1917, the Cartier Tank was designed by Louis Cartier after he was inspired by the shape of the Renault tanks he saw on the Western Front during WWI. Perhaps one of the most recognizable pieces of horological design to ever be created, the Tank’s rectangular shape, svelte proportions, and timeless aesthetic have enabled it to earn a top spot within the horological hall of fame. Amongst the plethora of models that belong to this iconic collection is perhaps the purest distillation of its design, the Tank Louis Cartier. True to the original, the Tank Louis Cartier features the same rounded case sides called “brancards” that stretch to form its lugs as the watch Louis Cartier designed all those years ago, which spawned the now-legendary collection and all of its associated models such as the Tank Francaise, Tank Cintree and so on. Offered here we have the wonderfully rare and relatively unknown Jumbo stepped Tank ‘London’ ref. 471. Launched in the early 1970s, before the Must de Cartier collection was launched, this timepiece features a large 28mm x 38mm brass case with an 18kt yellow gold plating and a stepped design that immediately differentiates it from other Tank designs. With around 5000 examples made before its discontinuation in 1976, the London ref. 471 is specifically notable due to its lack of a recess for its winding crown and three rows of text placed at the bottom of its snap-on caseback.

Pre-dating the Must de Cartier collection and offered as a much larger Tank variant with its stepped gilt brass case, the London ref. 417 and its New York and Paris counterparts offer a unique glimpse into where Cartier was headed at the time, while maintaining the brand's design prowess.