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 classical dial and 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.

What we have here, however, is not an ordinary Cartier Tank. Produced by Piaget for Cartier, this is a ref. 908 bearing Cartier’s signature at 12 o’clock atop its silver rosette guilloche dial. Featuring Cartier’s signature Roman numeral dial design and silver feuille hands, this example’s display echoes Cartier’s iconic aesthetic but with some small twists, just like its flat extra-thin 18kt yellow gold case construction that is not rounded as one might expect from a Tank of the period, marking it as a special and subtly unique timepiece.

A remnant of Cartier's tendency to outsource a lot of their production, this ref. 908 showcases Piaget's ability to create artisanal timepieces that are tremendously special and well-made.