Cartier Privé Replica collection is all about reimagining the classics of the past while focusing both on adapting them to current times and using mechanical movements. In recent years, the French maison already introduced re-editions of some of its most iconic watches.This year, it was time for the Tank Normale to make its reappearance, and boy, did Cartier deliver!
The Tank Louis Cartier and the Must derivative might actually be the better-known Tanks by now. Those are the models with the more rounded lugs and sides. Many different versions, colors, and even solar-powered models have been launched. But it all started with the original Swiss Cartier Tank Replica Watches, which the brand now calls the “Normale.”And in doing so, it quickly became clear that these aren’t such normal watches at all.
Ab-Normale
Apart from the hands, all the other design elements have made their return on the Tank Normale that debuted a couple of weeks ago.It still isn’t a big Cheap Cartier Replica, though, and at 6.85mm thick, it’s also very slim. Nevertheless, it does have a lot of presence on the wrist. This comes down to the combination of the iconic design and the weight of the yellow gold or platinum. This heft is especially noticeable when you pair the watches with their matching brushed brick-style bracelets.
The movement, crown, and hands
Inside the grade AAA+ Tank Normale Replica is a movement from Le Temps Manufacture that Cartier calls caliber 070. It’s a movement with 21 jewels that runs at 25,200vph and has a 38-hour power reserve. You operate it through the cabochon-set crown.The latter’s crown matches very nicely with the blued set of steel hands. On the platinum version, the steel hands are simply polished and have no color to them.
A hefty Tank
The links aren’t much thinner than the case is, and the bracelet doesn’t taper towards the clasp. The links are also very close to each other, and therefore, they do not articulate fully. But it does mean that the bracelet keeps a very nice shape on the wrist. In a way, it reminds me a bit of the way the bracelet feels on my stainless steel Santos. It really is a part of the overall design of the watch and certainly not an afterthought.
A vintage-looking sapphire crystal
The other thing that immediately catches your attention when you pick up the Tank Normale is that very vintage-looking crystal covering the dial.Because of the way it looks with both the dome and facets, it could also very well be made out of mineral or Plexiglass. Anyway, it is indeed sapphire, and it looks absolutely gorgeous.
As you can see in the picture above, it doesn’t even protrude that far above the case. It stands just high enough to give it that vintage flair. But they’re not there to turn the crystal into art. The Cartier Replica Watches facets are there to make it look like the crystal on the original Tank, and they’ve succeeded. And again, I think they look great and suit the Tank Normale to a tee.
On the wrist
As soon as I put it on my wrist, it felt right at home. The bigger size works great on my 17cm (6.7″) wrist, and especially on the bracelet, it looks very much like my Santos reference 2823.
The Cartier replica watch store at discounted prices thin, polished bevels on the edges of the case prominently emphasize the brushing on the sides. And that finishing along with the updated sword hands makes the watch seem a bit more powerful now. Yet it still is just as elegant as it was before.
I also tried the watch on with the alligator strap. I liked wearing that combination a lot more than wearing the Tank Must. For some reason, it sat better on my wrist, maybe because of the weight of the case. But perhaps it’s just because the Tank Normale seems more square than rectangular.