Launched quietly last year as limited production runs of the standard model, the Tank Américaine “Art Deco” gives a striking new look to a familiar model that was first introduced in 1989.

Though the Art Deco-style dial is mostly associated with the low-cost (and low-end) Tank Must de Cartier, it has been artfully applied to the Américaine with varying surface finishing and thoughtful details. The result is a Tank Américaine that looks radically different from the standard model, while being priced the same.

Initial thoughts

The Tank Américaine was conceived as a modern take on the Tank Cintrée, but because of its wider availability, numerous variants, and comparatively affordable pricing, the Américaine has become something of a poor cousin in the eyes of enthusiasts.

The new variants of the Tank Américaine, however, are clearly trying to change that. They look and feel more upscale with the “Art Deco” dials that do away with the central seconds, which are long standard for automatic versions of the Tank Américaine.

The yellow gold version

Both are identical in dimensions. The case is a little wider and thicker than the Cintrée, so it’s not quite as elegant. And the 1899 MC movement inside is in-house but industrial and not as sophisticated as the manual-wind calibres (that are either Piaget or Jaeger-LeCoultre) in the Cintrée.

But the Américaine “Art Deco” is more affordable, with the yellow gold version priced a little over US$16,000. The “Art Deco” is a larger, unusual version of the Tank that’s more sizeable than the Tank Louis Cartier and more accessible than the Tank Cintrée.

While not limited editions, the “Art Deco” models are limited production and won’t be in the catalogue for the long term, making them a compelling alternative to the more common iterations of the Tank.

The Art Deco (left) and the standard model

“Sector” dial

The new Américaine pair return a dial originally found on the inexpensive Tank Must of the 1980s and 1990s. The design was revived in 2021 on the Tank Louis Cartier, which presumably sold well, as Cartier has returned to the dial with the new Américaine.

I like the design, which is a sector-esque look, so much so that I requested a Tank Cintrée with a similar dial several years ago (back when such things were easier to get but paradoxically less common), but decided against it because it reminded me too much of the Tank Must.

That said, the Américaine “Art Deco” looks good in both versions. It helps that both employ popular colour combinations; the platinum case with a “salmon” dial is almost too common but it still has a great deal of appeal. The appeal is especially clear when this is compared with the regular production model that has a classic, but plain, silver dial.

The Art Deco dial is two-tone in both variants, so it catches the light nicely. The two-tone look is achieved by varying the finishing. The chapter ring for the hours has a radial brushed finish, giving it a brighter tone than the rest of the dial, which has a matte surface.

Beyond the dial, the rest of the watch is identical to the standard version. The watch has an elegant outline, but is a little thick.

The case measures 24.4 mm by 44.4 mm, which is comparable to the Tank Cintrée, but it is 8.6 mm high. That’s quite tall for a watch like this, and largely due to the self-winding movement inside.

The 1899 MC is an in-house calibre with a full rotor that’s necessarily small in order to fit into the narrow case. Because of its dimensions, it has a short power reserve of 40 hours.

Like many of Cartier’s recent in-house movements, the 1899 MC does the job but without any frills. The calibre is industrial in both construction and finishing, but it’s good enough given the relatively accessible price of the new Américaine.

Key facts and price

Cartier Tank Américaine “Art Deco”
Ref. WGTA0297 (platinum)
Ref. WGTA0295 (18k yellow gold)

Diameter: 24.4 mm by 44.4 mm
Height: 8.6 mm
Material: Platinum or 18k yellow gold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: Cartier 1899 MC
Functions: Hours and minutes
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 40 hours

Strap: Alligator leather with gold folding clasp

Limited edition: No
Availability: Now at Cartier boutiques
Price: US$23,400 in platinum; US$16,800 in yellow gold (prices exclude taxes)

For more, visit cartier.com.