Cartier Tank Arrondie Extra-flat ref. 96041 - Mechanical - c. 1980 (box and service papers)

The Tank that softens the angles Description A gold case, protruding side lugs, a railway-style minute track, blued hands, and a winding crown adorned with a sapphire cabochon: all the hallmarks of the Cartier Tank are present. Instantly recognizable by its With its iconic design, this watch has lost none of its charm. It is elegant, practical, and very comfortable on the wrist. This Cartier Tank Arrondie, reference 96041, is distinguished by its delicately rounded and thinner lines, which soften the geometric rigor of the original design. Crafted in 18-karat yellow gold, this ultra-thin version It will appeal first of all to those who like fairly flat watches, thus harmonizing with the lines of the hand. This watch will also appeal to connoisseurs, as it features a manual movement and a "Paris" dial, the Maison's secret signature indicating Parisian craftsmanship. The watch comes with its service invoice, which notably states that the dial and hands were replaced with identical models in 2025. Thanks to its white dial, it can be paired with a strap of your choice, according to taste and season, and features a gold-plated Cartier pin buckle. It offers a slim and elegant silhouette that rests lightly on the wrist. A watch of great understated elegance, where every detail is perfectly executed. The Cartier Tank is reinvented here in a softer, more subtle version. Why did Françoise choose her? Because it's a watch that we can only recommend. For Françoise, It embodies a more understated and less formal elegance than the Tank Louis, a balance between clean lines and soft angles. It is a must-have, both historically and stylistically. A watch that will never lose its value, especially with a manual movement and the "Paris" inscription. This is, par excellence, the kind of watch one takes pleasure in passing down, a piece that combines technical expertise and aesthetics: functionality, elegance, and prowess are all present. The Tank "was brilliantly created to remain eternally contemporary." That's why we have complete confidence in it. Finally, it's a rarer and more sought-after watch. Its ultra-thin design and harmonious proportions make it an ideal everyday piece, equally elegant with formal attire or a more casual wardrobe, for both women and men: the understated elegance of true luxury. A watch that's a pleasure to wear and to admire. History The Tank watch, also known as the Normale, appeared in 1917 in honor of the heroes of the First World War, its design inspired by early tanks. Five years later, the Tank Louis Cartier was conceived, a model very similar to the first but with a more elongated dial and thinner, more rounded lugs. Several generations have followed, retaining the same distinctive features while adapting to new watchmaking technologies such as quartz. The Tank Arrondie, and more specifically reference 96041, appeared in the late 1970s and 1980s, a period when Cartier revisited its classics with greater refinement and lightness. The angles of the case were softened, the lines became more fluid, giving rise to a more sensual Tank. Produced in limited quantities, the Tank Arrondie never achieved the mass distribution of other variations in the collection. Today, it is considered a collector's item, emblematic of a creative period when Cartier combined tradition, elegance, and modernity.