Cartier Tank Obus 1630 'Diamonds'

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The Obus is one the very few square models in the extended Cartier Tank family.

The Tank Obus was introduced in 1923 and has only been produced in extremely limited numbers since. The Obus stands out among the Tank family as it does not feature the iconic vertical bars found, among others, on the Tank Louis. As the name Obus—which means bullet or shell in French—betrays, the distinguishing characteristics of this model are the exquisite bullet-shaped lugs.

This ref. 1630 from the late 1990s/early 2000s is executed with an 18K yellow gold case that measures 24.5 x 24.5 mm (31 mm lug to lug). The bezel is factory-set with an exquisite double-row of diamonds and features a crown that is topped with a matching diamond. In true Cartier fashion, the silver-toned dial is characterized by black painted Roman numerals and elegant blued Breguet hands.

This Tank Obus has just returned from a full service at Cartier as attested to by the accompanying service papers. The watch is powered by a handy quartz movement and comes on a brown alligator leather Cartier strap with an 18K yellow gold Cartier deployant buckle.

Introduction

Cartier  Louis-François Cartier took over his master’s jewelry workshop in 1847. Over the years, his sons and grandsons inherited the family business and expanded the brand by opening shops in New York and London. King Edward VII of the United Kingdom granted Cartier a prestigious royal warrant in 1904, calling the brand “the jeweler of kings and the king of jeweler.” Such was the renown of Cartier, that royal warrants soon rolled in from all over the world (among which, Belgium, Egypt, Greece, Siam, Spain, Portugal, and Russia). While Cartier is known primarily for its jewelry, it also has a storied history in watchmaking. Cartier’s first foray in watchmaking came in 1888, offering exclusively ladies models. In 1904, Louis Cartier gave his friend and Brazilian aviation pioneer Santos Dumont a watch to wear during his flights. Until then, wrist watches were worn exclusively by women and men opted for the traditional pocket watch. The ‘Santos-Dumont’ was not only the first wristwatch geared towards men but also the first pilot’s watch.

Specifications

Shipping

We offer complimentary worldwide shipping by insured courier. Packages are generally dispatched within 2 days after receipt of payment and are shipped by private courier, PostNL, FedEx or Ferrari group; depending the value and destination. Consult us if you prefer another method of shipping. For all destinations tracking is available.