The Tank Cintrée has always been one of Cartier's most irresistible cases. The very first Cintrée, following the Tank two years later, was released in 1921. This is the 100th Anniversary celebration, a limited Cintrée made in 150 examples with its own highly distinct design. Its design cues lean toward vintage with exaggerated proportions and an ultra-thin 6.4mm thinness, making the 100th Anniversary one of the most elegant and reverential Cartiers of recent times.
The core of the Cintrée is its case, curved to the form of a wrist. The 100th Anniversary has a longer and thinner proportion than the 1921 by 2mm or so. The 100th Anniversary case is not the same as the 2018 Cintrée, noticably thinner. Here, the upper brancards are finished in a perfect mirror, where every other surface is delicately brushed.
Its dial a near-doré eggshell tone, softly grained and made as a precise mirror of the 1921 dial design, serif for serif. Similarly, it sports blued steel Breguet hands in a nod to the early years. Compared to the standard Cintrée, the numerals are thinner, pulled and elongated. The dial is simply signed 'Cartier', with no Swiss, Paris, or London. The warm palette glows in low light, in the way that vintage dials often do as well.
The 100th Anniversary also opted to change the calibre to an ultra-thin JLC 849 ébauche. This remarkable base is only 1.85mm in total. Interestingly, the JLC connection makes historical sense here as well as a LeCoultre calibre powered the original Cintrée.
This is Cartier masterfully exercising their strengths, not just form and design but also in respectfully making tasteful references to the past. The Cintrée has remained the most desirable of Tank cases over decades, not just for its size but the pure shape. Very few designs can be said to have been unerringly attractive for an entire century without faltering. The Cintrée has accomplished that seemingly impossible task through perfectly formed, thoughtful shape. The Anniversary sums up these 100 years with grace. This is as timeless as a watch can be.
